 Photo credit: outsidecampers.com Satan knows the easiest way to make me trip: it's not temptation with materialism or illicit drugs or sex. It's the church. In particular, that church. The crazy one. The one I grew up in, where anything goes.
As a Pentecostal PK (preacher's kid) from the south, I've seen it all. I saw a cowboy at the altar shout hallelujah and stomp through someone's guitar. I saw two women in an all-out prophesy war, their fingers wielded as swords in each other's faces: "I rebuke you in the name of Jeeesus!" "Naw, I rebuke you in the name of Jeeee-sus!" It makes one embarrassed to be a Charismatic. Not that I am one. I'm more of a "contemplative Charismatic." An oxymoron? Maybe. Or maybe I'm just tired of all the hype. So when they said a preaching tent was coming to town, I yawned. I might have even rolled my eyes a little. Then we went to hear one of the speakers and halfway through I realized I hadn't cracked a smile and my arms were folded. From my peripheral vision I could see my teenage daughters observing and mimicking my cynicism. It scared me. I remembered how tender I was at their age. I didn't know the meaning of the word "sin-icism." All I wanted was God in my life, and I was willing to jump over every hurdle to get to him. Even if it meant climbing over bodies at the altar, bodies doing things I still don't understand. As I sat there, I thought about the way some other kinds of churches go (not the crazy ones; these are in fact quite sane. Arms-folded sane). The places where they excommunicate you for asking questions, cut you off from your family, and send you a letter warning of eternal doom if you defect. That is where you end up when you can't smile at this, I thought. When you can't call these people "brethren." (Every family has a crazy uncle. But he is still family.) I wonder how many folding of churches began with arms folded across stiff bodies and pursed lips. Some of you are now experiencing dangerously high blood pressure and rapid heart rate, so let me see if I can help you relax. I'm not into heresy. I believe we should "test all things." I like decency and order. If one more evangelist tries to push me to the floor or showers me in spit, I just might slap him. And last night I dreamed I looked a minister in the eyes (I could name him) and said, "I am sick of egotism and arrogance in the pulpit!" So there. But here's the thing. In the middle of this great Charismaniacal zoo, some things are happening that I cannot deny. People I personally know and trust are telling me their miracle stories. Addictions are being broken, sick bodies are healed and depression has taken leave. Through the tent meetings. And there seems to be a common thread among those experiencing God in this way: a childlike faith. A simple expectation that God can move through any vessel who's willing, even willing to make a fool of himself. Go figure. You know what scares me more than ministers with shady pasts and questionable character? The fact that my college degree and "critical thinking" could cause me to miss the God Who's right in front of me. The Jesus Who could do something really amazing for friends (or my children!) whom I'd rather shield from the things that make me cringe. "But the natural man does not receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (I Cor. 2:14) Was Paul concerned about the tent preachers coming to his town? "It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.... The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely...supposing that they can stir up trouble for me....But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and will continue to rejoice."(Phil. 1:15-18) Paul's arms weren't folded. I wonder how many of us will stand before God someday and hear, "I appreciate that you were such a valiant guardian of good doctrine and all, but I was in those places in the church that you avoided and caused others to avoid. I was working miracles there. Miracles needed by those you led." I guess I'd rather err on the side of innocent humility than prideful caution. I'm going back to the meetings. I may regret it as I have many times before. I may be embarrassed at having written this post as a result of what I encounter. It won't be the first time I've regretted promoting a ministry. But there have been many, many more times I haven't regretted such a decision. I just want to give God a chance. I want him enough that I'm willing to weed through the stuff of human flesh and see what treasure might be waiting for me if I'm willing to look past the things that I demand not be in my way.
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 Image courtesy of Public Domain Image.com My daily Bible reading brought me to I Samuel 14 today, Jonathan's victory over the Philistines at Michmash. Those bad guys were harassing the Hebrews so severely, everyone was hiding out in caves, thickets, wherever they could keep their families safe and alive.
While King Saul was hanging out under a pomegranate tree with his six hundred men, waiting for something to happen, Jonathan and his young armor bearer made things happen. I find some noteworthy encouragement in this passage: 1. Jonathan didn't get discouraged because no one else had caught his vision. He didn't despair because of the few number of supporters he had (namely, one). He said to his buddy, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised (Philistines); it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few." I love the response of his armor bearer: "Do all that is in your heart...I am with you." (I Sam. 14:7). No checking the budget. No "what-if's". Just trust in the man whom he knows is trusting in God. 2. Jonathan, with his armor-bearer following, climbed on his hands and knees toward the Philistine garrison. Without delving into the technical and historical reasons why this was significant, I know one thing: an effective leader must approach everything from a posture of humility. People don't seem to "get" you? Get on your hands and knees. Keep plodding forward, meekly, knowing success depends on God, not the number of supporters. Guard against bitterness when you feel alone in your passion to serve and give to those in need. If you read the story, you know that Jonathan's courageous actions inspired the Israelites to rise and overthrow the enemy. Before Dave and I began as leaders of WNC, I remember asking Steve Stewart of Impact Nations how to go about getting our congregation to catch our vision for being a church dedicated to helping the poor (he was formerly a successful church planter). He said, "You don't try to get people to catch a vision. You just graciously say, 'This is what we're all about; you are free to follow or go find where you fit.'" I like that. It's not a haughty, my-way-or-the-highway attitude, but rather, a humble submission of our vision to the people, giving them the freedom to take it or leave it. It means we can be like Jonathan, moving forward without the restraint of bitterness that so easily comes when we place undue expectations on people who don't share what is in our hearts. And freedom is what the Kingdom of God is all about, right? We all are free to love, free to serve, free to follow where Jesus leads. Here we go! (P.S. We are extremely grateful for the support and enthusiasm of the people at WNC when it comes to caring for and serving those in need. Go YOU!) Dear Church Congregation:
Every pastor was once a layman, and as such should understand the things that people need to be assured of before climbing aboard this Godventure we call “the local church.”Having experienced untold joys and heartache from the church throughout our lives, we understand the wonderings and ponderings that accompany being a part of a new church plant. There are many blanks yet to be filled in when it comes to the future of this humble endeavor God has entrusted to all of our care. We don’t have all of the answers up front, but we do have some promises we’d like to make to you as we forge ahead together toward all that God has in store for us and for this community. Please tuck this in your hearts with the assurance that we mean every one of these words.Print it out if need be, post it on our church walls, wave it in our faces and press it in the palms of our hands should we ever forget…. 1. We love you. When I called my mother last fall to ask for any advice she may have as a former pastor’s wife, her only words were, “Just love those people. Love them well.” I took it to heart, and intend to keep it there. We can say with confidence that we love all of you because of the way Christ loves us. If He can bear with our many scruples, surely we can bear with yours, knowing that we are no different, no better. 2. We may fail to always show you that unconditional love. That is pretty much a guarantee. We don’t want to, don’t mean to and certainly don’t plan to. But in the event we should fall short of loving you as Christ loves the church… 3. … We want you to let us know. Please come to us and tell us where we have failed you. We can’t change unless we know where we need to change. But along with that request, we need to promise another thing…. 4. …We will be approachable, by God’s grace. We will not chastise you for pointing out where we have failed. The road of instruction from you to us is a level road; it is not an uphill climb. If you should ever be in dread of approaching us, it is to our shame. 5. We will serve you. We are not here to benefit from you. Our desire is to help you become all God has called you to be for His glory—not for our gain. 6. We will be faithful to you. We will walk in integrity and truth before you. We will not, by God’s grace, hide anything from you that would disqualify us from serving you. Of course these things are easy to say; if you ever at any point should see a red flag concerning anything we say or do, please bring it out into the light as quickly as possible. Hold us accountable to these words. 7. We will listen to you. We may not agree with what you have to say (as you will not always agree with us), but we will hear you out with our mouths shut, and take your words to God for consideration. You are our teachers as much as we are yours. 8. We will cover and protect you. Your struggles are safewith us. We want you to feel free to share openly and confidently without the fear of judgment or exposure.We know you will do the same for us when we share our struggles with you. 9. We will continually, by God’s grace, point you to Christ and not to ourselves or another human. If you see us getting off-center or self-centered, we humbly beg you to tell us. 10. “We are in this together.” That is our church motto. We mean it. Please promise to never let us forget. In grateful service, Dave and Faith |
AuthorFaith Bogdan Archives
November 2013
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