Recently, I was in a gospel conversation with a woman in my city. She was cordial and I extended an invitation to an upcoming event at our church…and then proceeded to ask her about her religious background. She confidently shared with me that she was a committed Jehovah’s Witness. I went on to ask her if this was a faith she was introduced to as a child or if she had embraced it later in life. Her response should be convicting and illuminating for all who lead worship in the local church.
She said that she was raised in the Baptist church. As a
child she attended regularly and was frequent even into her adult years, but something was missing. She described her
church experience as one of emotionalism. “We would sing a lot…and there was
always a lot of shouting,” she explained. But I had questions. In her
evaluation, the church of her childhood failed to equip her with answers for
life.
At a point in her journey, she began to wrestle with purpose
and meaning. Then came the questions around death. She asked her grandmother, a
fixture in the church, about these things who simply told her that dying was
our purpose and then we go to be with Jesus. That’s it. The answers failed to
satisfy and the question marks in her mind made her a willing listener for
anyone with a coherent explanation. Then she was introduced to the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
These nice evangelists gave her answers that made sense, were logical, seemed
plausible and even made her feel better. The woman began to study her new found
religion and became versed in its tenets and fairly adept (if I may say so) in
telling her story in a winsome way.
As I probed further, I found that she has had numerous
encounters with Christians, mainly Baptists, whom she always talked with but
with little more success at discovering answers to life’s questions. I went on
to present the gospel but this woman was not remotely interested. Of course, I
left a wide door for future conversations, but left the encounter frustrated.
Here’s why:
Christians have the market cornered on life’s purpose, on
answers about things like death, suffering, and the afterlife. In fact, no
non-Christian source can speak holistically and authoritatively about these
things. Here is a woman who was in a church from childhood and was not properly
equipped to think rightly about them. Instead, her church, and specifically the
pastor as lead worshipper,
substituted clichés and emotional appeals, dancing and shouting… for the pure
Word of God. Now some may push back on this and tell me that only the Holy
Spirit gives understanding. Forgive my direct response: That is a cop out. Yes, the Holy Spirit DOES give understanding;
however, the pastor is required to set the table, make the food palatable, and
insure there is a balanced diet for consumption. Some may argue that the human
instrument (the preacher) is insignificant, to which I would ask, “Why then
must an overseer (pastor) be able to teach?” (1 Timothy 3:2).
As pastors, we have incredible influence among our flock.
They trust us to feed them. If we serve up a steady diet of cotton candy,
they’ll know no different. If we teach on some cerebral level that fails to
connect with the heart, they will simply not care. But if we do our job…then we
will be able to stand and give an account for our ministries. So, what must we
do? I would suggest five things. I’ll only mention them for sake of time, but
may expand in a follow-up article.
Make the
Word a priority. Study it diligently and present it clearly.
Measure
often. If you think you’re doing a faithful work but your people cannot
articulate and apply basic doctrines, you’re not fulfilling the task.
Teach
doctrine. As a professor once said to a group of preachers, “Preaching
doctrine is not a sin. Being dull and boring is a sin. Teach doctrine but don’t
be boring.”
Demonstrate
dependence on the Scriptures. If you’re citing the latest book on the best
seller’s list or never stray far from Calvin’s Institutes, you’re doing it
wrong. If John Calvin himself discovered you were citing him more than the
apostles, the prophets or the Lord Himself, he’d flog you.
Own it.
A shepherd knows well the condition of his flock. They are a reflection of your
leadership, your investment, and your teaching. If they get bored unless
there’s dancing parades or purple flags waving, then you’ve taught them to love
the wrong things. If this persists across generational lines, you’ve made the
devil’s job easy.
Now I am a pastor. I am not mad at anyone. I love pastors
and respect the calling. I know of the many draws on a pastor’s calendar and
the multiplied agendas seeking “just a quick minute” on Sunday morning during
the service. You must guard that time, minimize the distractions and expose the
people to the self-revelation of God through His Word.
I wonder, had the pastors in the case of the woman I spoke
with done differently…had they equipped the people with the Word…would she have
defected to a false religion and become an evangelist for the Jehovah’s
Witnesses? May that not be true of us and may we be able to say before the
throne of God, “I am innocent of the blood of all men for I did not shrink back
from declaring to you the whole counsel of Scripture.”
There it was. Another graphic on social media about the Bible. It looked like a flow-chart or a recipe you might find in grandma’s kitchen. “If you need peace…turn to (bible verse). If you’re discouraged…turn to (bible verse). And on. And on. And on.
Lists or guides like this are not bad in themselves. I have a similar reference tool that I use sometimes when counseling. But what stirred my heart was this: “Have we (in our information-saturated society) reduced the Bible to another information outlet merely to be mined for tidbits of information that we think we need?
Imagine with me for a moment. What if my interactions with Jodi (my wife of more than thirty years) were only for such “transactional purposes?” I speak to her when I need laundry. I call her when I want to schedule dinner. She gets a text from me when I have a question about the activities. If this represented the backbone of my marriage communication…how would you evaluate the relationship? You might say, “What relationship? You simply treat your wife like a commodity or a human ATM machine…where you push a few buttons to get what you want out of her!” You’d be right.
The problem is…this is often the relationship we foster with
God through Scripture. We hear a sermon on five or six verses. Then, again the
next week…same pattern. We look up information on children, divorce, money, or
a host of other subjects…only to push the Bible aside afterwards until the next
occasion when we want it to speak to a specific need we have. But where is the
relationship? Where is the time spent listening to God tell us a story about
what’s on His heart? Where is the deep consideration of otherwise random
nuggets of wisdom, poetic pictures of God’s creative work, or stories of His
interactions with a wandering people over thousands of years?
God’s people need
to know Him. We cannot do so without a firm resolve to spend time…without
agenda…just listening to the Lord speak to us…through His Word. An unhurried
encounter with the Divine. A listening ear and a longing heart…simply to know
Him more deeply. This is what the people of God must have!
Consequently, this is why, at Englewood (the church I am privileged to serve), we encourage everyone to be part of a Connect Group, so there is time to reflect on and share about those relational encounters with friends. This is why we use a curriculum structure which walks us through the entire Bible over three years…story by story, not just the stories we think we need or have piqued our curiosity.
If you’re not investing in this…in spending time in the
Lord’s living room listening to His stories and hearing His heart…why not start
today? You don’t know what you might be missing.
I recently saw the movie Unplanned, a testimonial of Abby Johnson about the evils of abortion and her time with Planned Parenthood. While I found the movie disturbing in so many ways and difficult to watch in several scenes, I think it is helpful on a number of levels. I have spent many days now trying to sort and organize my thoughts on the movie. It struck deeply in a number of areas and awakened many thoughts in my heart. Of course, I could write for days on all of the lessons, but I have been impressed for several days to zero in on one thought: I am the abortionist.
It is easy in the Christian sub-culture to form and us/them
mindset. Those people…out there…in the culture…they need saving! While that’s
not untrue…it is incomplete. We can, at times, forget that THEY are US. Stick
with me for a few short statements…then let me draw a conclusion or two.
The abortionist is no more lost or evil than any other unforgiven sinner.
We were all, at one time, unforgiven sinners.
Some, in fact many of our neighbors, friends, family members, and people in our community are still unforgiven sinners.
Abby Johnson is a great picture of God’s grace.
The actions of the Christians portrayed “at the fence” should be instructive for each of us.
I think, as believers, we can lose touch with who we were
before Christ saved us. We can forget that we could not save ourselves. We did
not clean ourselves up and present ourselves to God. He picked us up and
covered our sin. We added nothing to God’s salvation work. We simply responded
to His invitation and took His hand.
The fact that we can create an us/them dichotomy in our
minds is evidence of those parts of our nature that still require God’s
sanctifying touch. After all, we were all THEM to Christ.
It is high time that we learn to “love at the fence.” We must,
if we are to be faithful to God in worshipful obedience, stop looking at people
as “them” and invite them to walk with us toward Him. We are no better than the
most accomplished of all blasphemers…or the one who takes innocent lives. The
only thing that separates US from THEM is the shed blood of God’s perfect Son
who came…that THEY could become WE.
I am the abortionist…saved by God’s substitutionary sacrifice and called to live under His grace…as a bond-servant on mission. Completely free…yet indebted to my neighbors who are in active rebellion against a magnificent and glorious God!
If God can save Abby Johnson…if God can save me…then I must love at the fence, build bridges in humility before God and my neighbors and lead my neighbors to a “fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins.” Because, “sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.”
(P.S. If you have not seen this movie or want to view a trailer on it, there is one at THIS LINK.)
A friend recently returned from an extended trip across several time zones. As we visited one day, I casually asked about jet lag and reacclimating to his routine. He noted that everything was back in place except one component…the morning disciplines.
What are your disciplines? When I was a soldier in the US
Army, our typical week ran like clockwork. There was always morning physical
training (PT). There was always a morning meeting (formation), an end of the
day “debrief” (formation), and preparation of equipment and supplies for the
following day. These “disciplines” have been the source of much “parent
entertainment” with my family through the years. Yes…I am the dad that returned
from a camping trip with the boys and required that all of the gear be set back
up, cleaned and inspected, repackaged for the next excursion, and
systematically stored for a short-notice departure. The rationale for this was
not some pressing need to deploy the family into the woods, but the lingering
influence of habit…routine…discipline.
Generally speaking, I have a routine/discipline that drives my discipleship in Christ now. I tend to rise early…meaning that by 5:30am or so, I am already enjoying a cup of morning coffee and engaged in one of 3-5 devotional guides and daily bible readings. I follow a reading plan…a system, so that I won’t miss out on anything or skip over some uncomfortable part of the Scriptures. I make breakfast (nearly) every morning for Jodi and me. It is the same basic breakfast every day. I pack the same items into a briefcase and carry it to the truck so I can leave by the same general time every day. This is so I can get to the office before prayer time.
The point is not that I have a boring routine (though you
may be under that impression). The point is that I have certain milestones
driven into the ground that keep me grounded, facilitate achievement of defined
objectives, and provide much needed provisions for the day. When something
interrupts this discipline, I feel a bit “undone.” Because of my morning
discipline, my evening activities are generally shorter and often include an
early bedtime. If Jodi and I watch a late movie or a DVRd television show, my
morning disciple becomes a little more tedious and strained. So…to guard the
morning discipline (which is of ultimate value) I have to intentionally take
captive the runaway distractions of the evening.
Here is the point (and the question): For you, what are the defined goals and objectives that are critical to achieve? What disciplines are in place to promote, protect, and facilitate those objectives? How are your habits as they relate to these objectives?
Eugene Peterson described the Christian life as “a long
obedience in the same direction.” In other words, it consists of defined goals
and consistent progress toward them based on the desired outcomes rather than the
influence of emotions. Our “faith”
informs our habits/disciplines and our disciplines/habits influence our faith.
Do your habits reflect your priorities? Did they once? If so
and this is not the case today, start over. Don’t wait until next January and a
new wave of resolutions. Begin today. Define the goal. Lay out the strategy.
Adjust everything else around it. Begin again.
“discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness…” 1 Timothy 4:7
Today (Monday)…if you consider Sunday to be the first day of the week, is Day 32 of our churchwide reading plan. Reading through Exodus 10-11 and seeing the final plagues pronounced stirred my heart and mind today on the issue of trust.
If you spend enough time watching the news (regardless of
the channel) you can begin to feel that the world is a “hot mess” and that
there is no hope. If you read the Word of God, you certainly come to a totally
different conclusion…the world is still a “hot mess” but our God is working
according to a completely different perspective…and He is not even remotely
concerned about how things will turn out. He is not hopeless…but offers hope to
those in the journey.
Sign after sign, plague after plague, conversation after
conversation…God continued to offer a way for Pharoah to turn from his
self-will to acquiescing to the voice of God. God was never confused or dismayed,
challenged or discouraged by Pharoah’s resistance; rather, God announced it to
Moses in advance…so that Moses would learn to trust God’s sovereign plan even
more fully.
In the midst of the plagues, God caused the people of Egypt
to see Him and His protection/power as ultimate. The Hebrew God systematically
dismantled the top ten deities of Egypt, one after the other. Each time,
Pharoah became more entrenched in his self-will…but God’s “stock” among the
Egyptians increased. Also, the way the people of God were loved and protected
by God resonated in the hearts of the Egyptian people (Ex 11:3). So much so,
that the people gave gold and silver to the Hebrews willingly before the
Exodus. Finally, the “stock” of the leader, Moses, increased as the Egyptians
saw how he spoke clearly, powerfully, convictionally, and compassionately for
God (Ex 11:3).
Life today is in many way no different. The world is a mess.
Christians are often discounted and even dismissed. This, however, is not the
end of the story. God will prove Himself and His purpose to be unchangeable and
unstoppable. Most believers I know smile at that thought. Remember though…this
powerful movement of God’s demonstrable strength came in response to the cries
of His people after 400 years of slavery in Egypt with increasing persecution
and pressure.
So today…choose:
Choose to trust the purpose of God as good,
since God can be nothing else but good.
Choose to embrace the difficulties of the day,
knowing they are not final. God has more to say.
Choose to embrace and exalt the provision of God
throughout times of struggle; after all, God is at work demonstrating His power
for others to see.
For the sake of those watching, choose to look
toward the God who delivers, rather
than only the deliverance of God. We
worship Him, not merely what He does that benefits us.
I find, like you, that many professing Christ-followers often opine on matters beyond their immediate sphere of life. An actor in a distant state does something, and a Christian who disagrees may offer an opinion condemning the action. A government official in another state acts contrary to God’s revealed Word and a Christian offers a word of rebuke. [Full disclosure, I just offered an opinion on the actions of Governor Cuomo of New York on his horrific and destructive advocacy of expanded pro-abortion legislation. In my opinion, I suggested that if his church, the Roman Catholic Church, truly desired to demonstrate love toward the Governor and simultaneously clarify their position, they should seek his repentance through the process of church discipline.] Now, I am not part of the Governor’s church nor do I live in the state that he represents. My opinion, however informed or otherwise, is simply that. It is an opinion. I do not believe it is in any way unbiblical to share this opinion, since the Governor trumpets his faith, is a public figure, and is acting in a manner clearly at odds with Holy Scripture and the authority of the Catholic church.
What if, however, the Governor had been a member of a church that I attended…or led? Should his actions come under scrutiny by the congregation and should the church seek to assert any authoritative role in the conduct of the church member? My answer is…Yes. While that may shock or even provoke opposition from some, please allow me to briefly state my reasons.
To be a member of a church is to affirm agreement with the doctrinal positions of that church. The only (so called) church I know of that doesn’t require adherence to a doctrinal covenant is the Unitarian Universalist church, which is utterly inclusive. They are quite dogmatic about refusing to elevate one doctrine over another. [But this is, in itself, also a doctrinal assertion…and if you joined such an organization and sought to change it, you would likely have to separate from fellowship.]
For a Christian, there are no walls of separation between your faith, your personal life, and your professional life. One cannot separate faith from all other areas of life without becoming unfaithful. For instance, I once had the opportunity to open a gambling business and was promised an obscene amount of money to do so. The business was at odds with the faith position of my church (which I shared). To have aligned with the business would have placed me necessarily at odds with my church and my faith. In my free-choice, I chose to affirm my faith and forego the lucrative income.
The church has an obligation to act biblically and faithfully toward its membership. When a person joins a faith community, a covenant relationship is affirmed. There is a mutual obligation. The faith community MUST love its membership and be faithful to its covenant obligation in rescuing members who stray into sin…in both word and deed. If I believe or act contrary to closely-held doctrinal views, the only loving act the church can exercise is to seek my repentance and reconciliation (Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1-2, et.al.).
Not all doctrines are primary or essential to fellowship; therefore, there must be room for honest biblical disagreement within a church community. At the church I serve, we hold some doctrines as essential. In these matters, there must be unreserved agreement as a condition of the community. If a person, for instance, wished to join our church without agreeing that Jesus is the unique Son of God and that Salvation is only available through Jesus by grace through faith, and that this is true in every place and among every people at all times, their formal connection to the church would necessarily be refused, since this is a closely held and essential doctrine. At the same time, there may be disagreement on some biblical teachings (what we might refer to as secondary or tertiary doctrines), and membership NOT be refused. These doctrines may be recognized as being sufficiently mysterious, requiring more liberty within the fellowship.
Finally, if a member acts in a manner contrary to his faith assertion (actual or implied due to association with his church) all loving efforts should be employed to reconcile the dissonance and restore the member to a position of harmony with the doctrinal position of the church. To ignore the incompatibility is to demonstrate an unbiblical and unloving rejection of the member. Stated differently, to allow the disagreement to persist is to demonstrate that either the member or the church does not believe the doctrine to be essential to the faith.
I would suggest that it is time for communities of faith to act like communities. Church members deserve accountable communities that provide guidance and oversight, consistent with agreed upon doctrines, in their member’s lives. Churches deserve to have members that desire to live a consistent witness of the community’s doctrine and mission. This is the Lord’s desire and design for the church.
Much discussion occurs today on the “relevance” of the church. I think that the relevance of a like-minded and like-missioned community is self-evident. Therefore, every activity: personal, professional, or otherwise is connected to the community and should seek to further the community’s (church’s) mission and witness to its neighbors and the nations.
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