A pulp sci-fi cliché or two for you…..

While culling my bookmarks, I ran across this:Peter’s Evil Overlord List. Thought I would share a sampling of some gems of wisdom found therein. (I took the liberty to add the Googled images….)

• My force field generators will be located inside the force field they generate.

• My vats of hazardous chemicals will be covered when not in use. Also, I will not construct walkways above them.

• The gun turrets on my fortress will not rotate enough so that they may direct fire inward or at each other.

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• I will not send out battalions composed wholly of robots or skeletons against heroes who have qualms about killing living beings.

• My dungeon will have its own qualified medical staff complete with bodyguards. That way if a prisoner becomes sick and his cellmate tells the guard it’s an emergency, the guard will fetch a trauma team instead of opening up the cell for a look.

• If my mad scientist tells me that my superweapon is almost finished, but requires more testing, I will wait for him to complete the testing. No one ever conquered the world by using a beta-version.

• When it is prophesized that “no man will defeat me”, I will keep in mind the growing presence and influence of non-traditional gender roles in the world today.

• I will never attend an auction of an “ultimate weapon”. If the weapon were really that good, the auctioneer would already be Evil Overlord.

• I will always dress in bright, cheery colors… Mostly soft pastels. Wearing nothing but black is too depressing, while wearing all white is too boring.

• My Legions of Terror will have uniforms designed by a talented fashion designer, and will not be a cheap knockoff of the Nazi SS uniform, the roman foot-soldier uniform, or the clothing of the savage Mongol horde. All such groups were eventually defeated, and I want my troopers to have a more positive outlook about themselves.

• If I am fighting with the hero atop a moving platform, have disarmed him, and am about to finish him off and he glances behind me and drops flat, I too will drop flat instead of quizzically turning around to find out what he saw.

Disclaimer – In no way, shape, or form do I endorse the aspiration to becoming an Evil Overlord

Graffiti

Clever graffiti….not that I endorse defacing public property 

A humbling selection of posts…..

From Sharper Iron. Here one finds no shallow clichés:

Fourteen Reasons for Fourteen Years?

Fourteen years ago, my brother was hit by a truck. This past week, after living in a persistent vegetative state for all this time, he went home to be with the Lord. I shared the following at his memorial service on August 14, 2008. (Follow this link to view a YouTube tribute that was played at the memorial service.)

After Jeremy’s accident, I wrote a gospel tract entitled “Why?” that answered the basic questions the average person has when he undergoes trials. Now, fourteen years later, I find myself asking the same question, but in a different way. I was satisfied with the answers from God fourteen years ago, but why did God keep him around for fourteen years? Some people would say Jeremy was a drain on society and had a terrible quality of life. And at weary times, we are susceptible to all such tempting thoughts. In fact, I can say for the family this morning that in a way, a weight has been lifted. A fourteen-year weight. However, if we don’t answer that question, we are gathered here today as fools, trying to find meaning in a wasteland.

But God has the answers, and we are pressed to find them today. Why did God keep Jeremy alive in that condition for fourteen years? When you have a friend on the verge of death for fourteen years, you think about this day a lot and what you would say. I would like to share with you fourteen reasons for fourteen years.

1. Fourteen years changes the contemporary idea of quality of life. The idea that quality of life is to be defined solely by the individual rather than by the community is from the Devil. American individualism has robbed this nation of many benefits. Countless stories could be told of the untold blessings of Down syndrome, handicapped, special needs, and yes, PVS patients and the way they have made people ponder what true quality of life is-a life that displays the wonders of God. And all life is valuable.

2. Fourteen years was the time needed to teach us the ways of God. The psalmist said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statues.” Some things we learn only in affliction. Visiting Jeremy was often like looking in a mirror. His life message was convicting. You were confronted with your life, your lack of love, your priorities, your dedication, your care for the hurting, and the nature of your service. I cannot explain it, but many of you know of what I speak. Many times I left his bedside and followed Job’s example in chapter 42 and repented of the idolatry in my life. One of his friends said, “There was a time when I struggled with what appeared to be the senselessness of it all. But the reality of the goodness of God and then the experience of the work of God in lives through Jeremy’s suffering have resonated with the truths of Scripture. It is real. This is what the world needs to see -a real God transforming real lives in the most intense of situations.”

3. Fourteen years screams at the suffering of their need of patience. James admonishes us to let patience have its maturing work. Job was held up as an example of patience; at the end of his long journey, he saw a merciful, compassionate God. When a trial grows in length, the value of it deepens like fine wine. Clichés no longer sustain us. Shoulders to cry on vanish. Christ demands that we do what is supernatural, to abide under the burden while He perfects us.

4. Fourteen years provoked thousands of Christians to improve their prayer lives. When the trial happened, thousands prayed. Over the years, thousands more have interceded. One note I received from a college classmate of his said that her mom prayed for him every day for fourteen years. That’s fourteen years of communication with God. Fourteen years of pleading with Him to work. Fourteen years of Him saying no. Fourteen years of Him increasing and His creatures decreasing. I observed this fact firsthand as my boys made him their prayer project from the time they learned to speak. Yesterday, as we closed the casket, they wept. Boys, thank you for praying for him all these years. Sometimes God says no, and we can know that this is best. I was reminded of David who prayed and fasted for his child to live. Perhaps God would show mercy. He didn’t to David, and He didn’t to us. He had better plans.

5. Fourteen years uplifts the sovereignty of God. In our wisdom, we wonder, Why fourteen? Why not four or twenty-four? Yet we can rest, not in our autonomy, but in God’s great, ultimate plan. He tells us that Jer’s days were numbered before he was born, so he went home on the perfect day. So if I asked God why not four or twenty-four, He may respond the way he did to Job. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements-surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’? “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place?” God knows why it was fourteen years, and that is enough. Sovereignty is a soft pillow.

6. Fourteen years prolonged his earthly ministry. Jeremy’s legacy runs deep with many who remember his boundless energy, but he ministered to more through his tragedy than he ever did through his so-called “public” ministry. That was simply setting the stage for God to show something far deeper, far more marvelous. Over the past fourteen years, hundreds of people asked ultimate questions as they cared for him. Whether on his dozens of trips to ER, his transfer to multiple facilities, or his regular caregivers, he forced people to consider God’s hand in the world. One of his college professors e-mailed me yesterday with apt words. “As I see it, Jeremy has been full time in the ministry for the last fourteen years. It was not the ministry he would have chosen or any of us would have chosen for him. But he gave up the right to choose how God would use him sometime along the way, and I know he wanted what God wanted for him. He is a great example for all of us.”

7. Fourteen years has forced all involved to rely on divine strength. The physical demands of caring for Jeremy fell on his caregivers and primarily on my parents. And I want to publicly thank them for tirelessly caring for him, fighting for him, and staying by his side until the end. In our weakness we were forced to rely on a strength that was not our own. We can say that we were able to do this through Christ who strengthened us.

8. Fourteen years gave many people a new ministry of ministering the comfort of Christ. Second Corinthians 1:3-5 tells us that we get to take the ministry of a comforting Christ to our own hearts and use that to minister Christ to other hurting hearts. Our phones ring when brain-injured people enter emergency rooms. And we go. It’s a stewardship. It’s a gift. It’s a joy.

9. Fourteen years allowed him to preach the gospel longer. From the beginning, a gospel tract written on his life was used to give the gospel to lost sinners. At the end, on the night before he saw Jesus, one of his caregivers knelt by his bedside and accepted the Lord into her life. Paul testified to this in Philippians when he said of his persecution, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”

10. Fourteen years gave us a glimpse of what it means to be part of the fellowship of the sufferings of Christ. No human being suffered the way He did. John MacArthur says it well. “The deepest moments of spiritual fellowship with the living Christ are at times of intense suffering; suffering drives believers to Him. They find in Him a merciful High Priest, a faithful friend who feels their pain, and a sympathetic companion who faced all the trials and temptations that they face (Heb. 4:15). He is thus uniquely qualified to help them in their weaknesses and infirmities” (Heb. 2:17). I can say that I better understand Christ and His cross because of fourteen years of suffering.

11. Fourteen years allowed us to see the works of God. God used Jeremy’s trial to transform lives. People were saved, lives were transformed, and believers were sanctified. Why was the man born blind? Because of sin? No, so that the works of God could be displayed in his life.

12. Fourteen years proved Satan wrong. I can visualize the day when Satan walked into God’s throne room and said, “Do the Janzes fear God for nothing? Do those who know and love this boy simply believe in a feel-good God?” I can see God granting His permission. I fast-forward to sitting in the Salt Lake Hospital with family and friends who were reeling. But let fourteen years prove that this trial did not derail the saints of God. Let Satan be silent. Let it be known that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. So fourteen years proved him wrong . . . for fourteen years.

13. Fourteen years made us long for heaven. Perhaps one of the more draining experiences of these years took me by surprise. It was the dreams. Nobody told me about the dreams. But more times than I could keep track of, I would walk into a hospital room to a coherent brother, and I would catch him up on all that had taken place only to wake up and realize that it was a farce. The new grief got old fast. I began to long for heaven where we could converse about life during these fourteen years. I want him to know my children, my wife. God tells us that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glories of heaven. In a sermon by Jonathan Edwards in 1733, he said, “God is the highest good of the reasonable creature, and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. – To go to heaven fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows. But the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams, but God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean. – Therefore it becomes us to spend this life only as a journey towards heaven, as it becomes us to make the seeking of our highest end and proper good, the whole work of our lives, to which we should subordinate all other concerns of life. Why should we labor for, or set our hearts on anything else, but that which is our proper end, and true happiness?”

14. Fourteen years showed us that our satisfaction should be in Christ. “The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever!” (Ps. 21:26). God forbid if we ever lose sight of our true satisfaction. It is Jesus, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Sustainer, our Hope.

Evidence of an exercise in marketing a tepid “Gospel”

I saw a sign in someones yard today that declared: “Elect Jesus As Your Lord!” Now, I do not in any way shape or form infer anything ill about the character of the person who displayed this sign in their yard. I know nothing about the family that lives in the house that sits behind this sign, nor do I infer that nothing ‘good’ ever comes from such faddish displays of faith.

However, does not this sign, albeit without intention, portray a Jesus that seems a bit weak and needy? Is He awaiting a majority vote before He acts? Is the mighty Lion of Judah, is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords restrained by some political process? Is He not the absolute Lord of salvation, of the created order; is He not a mighty Redeemer? He elected me that all glory should go to Him; I do not elect Him that any glory should go to me.

I think of a sermon I listened to a number of months ago at a moderately sized community church wherein the well-intentioned pastor, after having two members of the church ride their large, loud motorcycles through the poorly ventilated church to park them in front of the stage to make some point, perfumed by carbon monoxide, about God’s timing, declared that Jesus is a ‘gentleman’ who would never force His will on anyone. Is that a biblical understanding of the sovereignty and power of Jesus?

I saw a tee shirt for sale at a large book retailer a few weeks ago. The front of the shirt was a ripoff of the Staples Easy Button. “Jesus” replaced the “Easy” on the button. Wasn’t easy for Jesus.

Evidence of discernment – excerpts from a post by John Piper

John Piper speaking on discernment, the Lakeland ‘outpouring’ in specific, and testing ‘revival’ in general:”

“Discernment is not created in God’s people by brokenness, humility, reverence, and repentance. It is created by biblical truth and the application of truth by the power of the Holy Spirit to our hearts and minds. When that happens, then the brokenness, humility, reverence, and repentance will have the strong fiber of the full counsel of God in them. They will be profoundly Christian and not merely religious and emotional and psychological.

The common denominator of those who follow the Antichrist will not be “charismatic.” It will be, as Paul says, “they refused to love the truth.”

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

Our test for every Lakeland that comes along should first be doctrinal and expositional. Is this awakening carried along by a “love for the truth” and a passion to hear the whole counsel of God proclaimed?”

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Evidence of spiritual growth

(The following is something I put together for a friend of mine from work yesterday. I was asked to provide input to a program his church was developing regarding the identification of different stages of spiritual growth with an overarching goal to move people to deeper levels of discipleship.)

Sorry for any lack of clarity on my part for what follows. I tell you, it is a daunting task to identify stages of spiritual development and perhaps describe/prescribe how one moves from one stage to another, and I do not know how qualified I am to speak to these issues. I am humbled by so many men far more capable than myself.

That all being said, here goes…………

I think I will start at the end and move to the beginning. I think we need to identify what spiritual maturity, the overarching goal, looks like It is conformity to Christ as evidenced in the following, and I believe these are evidences we in Christ all can agree on. In no particular order and perhaps a bit repetitive at times, here are some of those aforementioned evidences:

• It is evidenced in dying to self.
• It is counting as a loss everything the world may offer in comparison with knowing and being known by Christ.
• It is loving the Redeemer and Giver of gifts more than the gifts.
• It is evidenced in the attitude of exalting Christ without regard to circumstance.
• It is evidenced in the tongue that does not complain.
• It is evidenced in the heart that looks and longs for evidences of grace rather than always self-righteously looking at the faults in the lives of others who are in Christ
• It is evidenced when one looks at others as being more important than themselves
• It is evidenced in the ability to discern truth from error
• It is evidenced in the ability to know how to graciously respond to one who may be in error
• It is evidenced by seeking to ‘wash the feet’ of one’s brother.
• It is evidenced in the one who thanks God when circumstances may, on the surface, seem dire.
• It is evidenced by child-like (not childish) faith in the Redeemer
• It is evidenced by a heart that repents more dearly and sincerely, a redeemed heart broken over sin.
• It is evidenced by a humble and contrite spirit
• It is evidenced by a desire to share the Gospel and make disciples of the nations
• It is evidenced by an abiding love for the Church, the bride of Christ
• It is evidenced by a generous heart that gives sacrificially
• It is evidenced by a desire, a hunger, for the Scripture, the authoritative, infallible, inspired word of God
• It is evidenced by a desire to reflect the grace of Christ to others
• It is evidenced by a heart that grieves over injustice
• It is evidenced by a life of faith in Christ whose faith produces works of righteousness
• It is evidenced by a attitude that seeks obedience to Christ in ALL things
• It is evidenced by acknowledging that we in Christ bring absolutely nothing to the table in regards to our justification. Even our faith is a gift of God that no man should boast
• It is evidenced in an attitude of patience
• It is evidenced when one is satisfied with what one has
• A longing for the deeper things of Christ, to move beyond a diet of milk
• It is evidenced when we perhaps sometimes ask “why” instead of “why me.”
• A growing understanding of the absolute sovereignty and holiness of God and the ability to have that understanding reflected in our response to trials and tribulation.
• A growing tenderness of heart tempered by a fierce devotion to truth
• Knowing that when the Father looks upon us, He sees us clothed in the righteousness of Christ
• A life infused with grace
• A life defined by having no fear of death or life. To live is Christ, to die is gain.
• A life defined by having love for those who do not love us back.
• A life defined by not seeking retribution for those that hurt us
• A life defined by the ability to endure hardship in such a way that we, and others, may exalt Christ
• A life defined, for a husband and father, as being head over the family as Christ is head over the Church
• A life defined as being the first to seek reconciliation without regard to one’s guilt, or lack thereof, especially within the context of one’s marriage and the church
• A life defined, for a wife and mother, as one of Christ-like submission to one’s husband, whether or not he ‘deserves’ it.
• A life defined by submission to authority as long as such does not require immorality.
• A life defined as working for one’s employer as if one is working for Christ, without grumbling and complaining.
• (Irony alert) An understanding that we are not justified by faithful adherence to a list of behaviors and attitudes.
• A life defined by acts and attitudes of forgiveness.
• When one wakes up, one’s thoughts are on the Redeemer. When one goes to sleep, one’s thoughts are on the Redeemer.
• It is evidenced by acts of mercy, forgiveness, selfless service, selfless giving
• Being a gracious defender of truth, being one who stands on the wall to watch and protect
• Understanding that is ultimately the power of the Spirit that enables spiritual growth. We have nothing to boast about.
• It is evidenced when one has the courage, love, and commitment to graciously turn a brother away from sin. We are our brothers keeper.
• It is evidenced by obedience to Christ

While I have not provided any scripture to validate the above, I can do so, given a bit of time, if desired. I am admittedly writing from memory and though I feel comfortable with what the Bible states regarding spiritual maturity, I am not very good at memorization.

Having pointed out evidence of spiritual maturity, let’s go to the other end of the spectrum and ask ourselves what spiritual infancy/immaturity look like. It would be easy to simply state the opposite of the first list, but I will try to avoid, for the most part, that easy path

Again, in no particular order:

• The asking of “why me” instead of “why.” (I know that a pure, simple faith does not even ask the ‘why.’)
• The ‘pitching of one’s tent to close to the world.’
• Lack of discernment
• Focus on legalism
• Lack of knowledge regarding doctrine (Let me state that I am concerned about the ‘deeds, not creed’ attitude that seems to be so deeply embedded in large parts of the American church. Deeds and creeds go hand in hand. Ignore either at ones peril.)
• A prayer life that consists primarily of selfish petition rather than praise and thankfulness. “What can you do for me, God?”
• Seeking recognition of self – an overarching focus on self. Conversations are most always about oneself, one’s problems.
• An untamed tongue. We murder people with our tongue every day
• A tendency to involve oneself in fruitless arguments and discussions
• Finding one’s greatest satisfaction in hobbies, work, etc rather than in knowing and growing in the Redeemer
• When you may be more identified by your political affiliation rather than your affiliation with the Messiah.
• When you self-righteously judge the unredeemed for acting like someone who is unredeemed.
• Finding one’s peace and satisfaction built upon a foundation of circumstance.
• Trying to validate one’s standing with the Creator by one’s performance.
• Not knowing what doctrines are hills to die on and which doctrines may be agreeably disagreed upon.
• More on the tongue: engaging in crude comments
• Neglecting the gathering together within a local church where sound doctrine is preached and the body serves one another
• Neglecting to regularly spend time in the Word and in prayer
• Being entertainment driven
• Seeking more to be served then to serve
• Seeking revelation beyond what God has reveled in the Bible
• When you unrighteously/self-righteously judge the redeemed….which infers there are times and places of righteous judgment. You are to graciously point out/remove the speck from your brother’s eye; just make sure there is no log in your eye.
• A tendency to “play the Pharisee card” in regards to differences of ‘questionable things’. (The “Thank God I am not like those self-righteous Pharisees over there” attitude. We in Christ are all, in varying degree, recovering Pharisees.)
• Wavers on the non-negotiable truths of the faith……The “I believe in Jesus, but who am I to judge someone else on a different path to God” perspective

I have given two extremes. I think we all can identify with elements in both lists. I do not think everyone’s experience in growth to spiritual maturity is the same. Perhaps one could break the list into further categories…..infancy, toddler, etc…..but I am not so sure the Bible leads to that understanding of spiritual growth. Paul and the apostles speak in terms of maturity and immaturity. The Apostle Paul speaks of babes longing for and drinking milk and the more mature who are ready for a more substantive diet. Paul chastises those who are still drinking milk when they should move beyond the foundational elements of the faith. As an aside, I think about the church at Corinth. I think about how Paul did not call into question their salvation though he has grave concerns about that church.

Ultimately, the Spirit convicts us and leads us to righteousness. The Spirit leads us to exalt Christ. We have the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting. We have the body of Christ, the church, to relationally build us, mentor us, and correct us and encourage us. We have the 66 books of the Old and New Testament canon to build us, to train us in righteousness, to equip us for good works. We have under-shepherds, the pastor of the local church and the elders, to provide nurture and protection for the flock. We have the assurance that Christ will complete the work He began in us. We have the assurance that He works out all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

However, we are also called to check ourselves, to see if our election, our salvation is ‘real.’ Are we bearing fruit? Some, like me, are slow out of the gate and take many wrong turns while others grow and bear fruit soon after the seed is planted, but ultimately, we in Christ will bear evidence of spiritual fruit. I fear, however, so many in the church are on the wide path and will miss the narrow gate.

In closing, many of the attributes of the first list may be found in those who do not know Christ. Merely possessing these attributes does not justify us. Many of the latter attributes are found in those who are truly redeemed by the penal substitutionary atoning work of Christ on the cross. They are no less justified by faith than those in Christ who possess all the attributes of the first list. Therein lies the power of grace through faith in Christ. We are not to fall into the erroneous idea that this life is a ‘spiritual test’, that we are justified by our adherence to the ‘list.’ Adherence to the ‘list’ is an effect, not a cause. The cause is the grace and mercy of Christ as the Holy Spirit works within us and conforms us to His image.

Evidences of Grace

Here is a sermon, an MP3 a little under an hour in length, based on 1 Corinthians, by C. J. Mahaney on evidences of grace. Here I find, thankfully, further conviction of my oftentimes overly polemic attitude. Too, there is perhaps a time and place for moralistic sermons, for corrective encouragement, but I would love for all to hear grace expounded so clearly. Grace encourages me. Grace drives that desire to be more Christ-like. Grace transforms. Grace nurtures and grows a heart that longs to die to self so that we may find our sole satisfaction in our Redeemer.

C.J. Mahaney’s Testimony

HT=Take Away the Stone

11-4-08 and AD 70

Back to blogging for a bit……

As we approach conclusion of this current electoral cycle, I find myself increasingly disconnected from the blur of political conversation and opinion. Not much more than a year ago, it would not be unusual to find me embroiled in ideological debate. I was resolute in my opinions, listened to and read my commentators of choice on a regular basis, and could articulate the assured correctness of my politics with a fair measure of coherency. If one were to list my most frequently visited websites, one would find a fairly large sampling of political pundits.  Before I continue, I want it be abundantly clear that I am not making any kind of overarching blanket condemnation of all political thought, talk, and activity as it emanates from everyone. I do not infer that all political conversations are always inherently unhealthy to ones growth as a disciple of Christ; nor do I infer that one’s interest and involvement in politics is always and in all circumstances detrimental to the purpose of the kingdom of God.

Now that I have that disclaimer out of the way, I want to testify to the transforming power of God in individuals and exalt and affirm His sovereign hand on the affairs of the world.

I think about the political climate of the 1st century Palestinian Jews and then compare it with the political milieu of 21st century America. Please forgive any error in detail and accuracy because I write from my fallible memory, but I recall reading about 30,000 Jews crucified, immediately prior to the birth of Jesus, by the Roman Empire in response to an uprising by Jewish zealots seeking to overthrow the rule of Rome over Israel. I think of the horrific persecution of the early followers of Christ under Nero and Diocletian.  No matter how bad one may think the choices are come November 4, America under Obama or McCain will be a bit less oppressive than Judea in AD 70.

Having said all that, the New Testament canon, authored in times and places of political upheaval, is remarkably apolitical. We are told that disciples of Christ are in the world, but not of it. We are sojourners. We are to render to Caesar the things of Caesar and the things of God to God. Our Kingdom, our allegiance, is not in the here and now. We are not promised political stability. While being salt and light, we affirm that our hope lies not in any temporal political process, personality, or agenda. Our zeal for politics may often (but never should) mask our zeal for Christ. There is a danger that outspoken political agendas may overshadow the Evangel.

While the organized political momentum of 1980′s evangelicalism may thankfully be on the wane, our speech as individuals still reverberate in the lives of others. Will people, after engaging me in conversations, label me, remember me, as a conservative or liberal, or will they recall me as someone who seeks oportunity to exalt the One who spoke creation into existence from nothing, the One who redeems the lost. I am not always faithful, I know, but when Christ redeemed me by way of the Cross, He redeemed my tongue that I should use it to His glory.

I simply and thankfully find myself led to a place where I no longer care too much about politics. For me, politics was an idolatrous pursuit. It may not be such for you. I know that, left to my own devices, I am spring-loaded to a position of idolatry. That statement, I believe, is true for all of us.

Do they regard Jesus to be mistaken when He Spoke to Peter?

Following are some quotes from pastors and church planters, some of whom are quite influential, some who’s star is on the rise, some who will probably continue their pastorate in relative anonymity. Almost without exception, all belong to the attactional, marketing driven, ‘seeker-sensitive church’ movement. Before we continue, you may wonder about my motivation behind this post; I have to honestly examine and question myself a bit on that point, too. Am I desiring the hurt these pastors? Do I have some destructive vendetta against their respective churches? Do I infer that those being quoted are always wrong in all they do and say and that they always operate from less than honorable motivations? The answers are thus: No, I do not want to hurt these pastors, and no, I do not operate from some desire to carry out a vendetta. I have attended a couple of the churches and know that they have good intentions. As an aside, I am, however, getting to the point where I no longer care about the intentions of individuals in positions of pastoral leadership within the visible church when matters of truth and error regarding the fundamental nature of the church, of the historic nature of the faith, is involved. We are not talking about what type of music is to played in the church or what color carpet is to be purchased for the church office. We are talking about the core responsibilities of a pastor.

Why then do I post these thoughts? First and foremost, this increasing common attitude towards pastoral responsibility represented by the following quotes grieves me to my core. Beyond these handful of quotes, I have also listened to sermons that carry the same message of disdain for the spiritually hungry, that proclaim the pastors abdication of his responsibility to feed the flock.

I struggled with the question of if I should publish this post (I feel as if I have already beat this subject to death). I also struggled with the question of providing links within the following quotes. While there is always the question of a quote being taken out of context on my part, I do not feel very comfortable bringing this post to a personal level; I prefer anonymity for those referred to because I do not know the men whom I quote though I have either read or listened to most of them. However, their words are already in the public domain for all the world to read, and any who should peruse through this post will have the context available. My concerns are more in regard to the methodology that breeds such attitudes rather the character of the individuals who hold to such attitudes and methodologies. That being said, here are their words with a few more of my thoughts on the other side of this post.

#3 – The “Feed Me” Person I have never been able to keep one of these people around…ever! You know the drill…they always come from another church (they weren’t being fed there either) and they want you to know that they are sincerely seeking a church that teaches the Bible (and they will stay as long as you teach THEIR VERSION of the Bible.) But, if they become displeased with the sermon direction…or dissatisfied with your particular view on a theological issue…or convicted of not doing what they know they should be doing-they will say you are not feeding them and leave. Pastor, being honest here…I’ve NEVER encountered a person who claimed they weren’t being fed that also had a dynamic personal walk with Jesus. If that were true then they would show up to the church FULL and not need to latch on to the breast! It’s not our job to feed-but to lead to places where food can be found. (Emphasis mine. Perhaps church is the a biblically ordained place where food should be found and served.)


I hope my point that this abdication of pastoral responsibility is not as unique or odd as one might think. So many churches are unbiblically redefining the nature of church. No longer is church for those in the faith, those redeemed by the blood of the Christ, but rather it is more for those who, as more than one pastor has inferred, want to kick the tires of this Christianity thing.

As a follower of Jesus Christ WE have the responsibility to fill our tanks. It bothers me when a Christian makes a comment about a church and says, “I wasn’t getting fed there…” News flash-it’s not the churches job to feed you !!! Let me explain…

I’ve heard it…you have too… “Christians” saying, “I just want to be fed!” It blows my mind! This would be equal to you and I going to an all you can eat restaurant and crying because no one would bring us any food. Food is all around in this environment…but if the person is lazy and self centered, wanting to be waited on hand and foot, then they could possibly starve to death when food is merely a few feet away.

The mission is not to feed – but to train.

We all know that one of top 3 reasons people leave churches is the (infamous) claim:“I wasn’t getting fed there. ” Maybe you weren’t. Or maybe the church set the table, presented the bread of life, and you were too stinking lazy to bring it back to your mouth, chew it, swallow, and digest it, like a big boy. (emphasis mine)

What people say “I just want some deeper teaching.” Alternate version:”I want the meat.” Alternate version #2: “I need to be fed.” What that usually means Don’t preach practical stuff to me. I would actually have to do something about it.

“Waaaaa. I’m Not Getting Fed” (Part 1) I thought I’d share a few thoughts on the battle cry of my least favorite people, the church hoppers, shoppers, floppers, and stoppers … “I’m not getting fed.”

And so … stop giving me your “I’m not getting fed” crap and go home and spend lots of time face-to-face with God, and you WILL grow in intimacy with Him. And then you’ll realize that there’s something far better than knowing about God, and it’s knowing God. (Sorry, I lost it there for a minute.)

Erwin McManus, pastor of Mosaic: “Christians are bolemic (sic): they starve themselves all week and expect to gorge each Sunday. My goal is not to feed the sheep; but to make them hungry and teach them to feed themselves.” (Erwin is also perhaps more an emergent than a seeker-sensitive though both camps sometimes refer to him. Also, I have found this quote on numerous sites and blogs)

From JDGreear.com reflecting on a meeting with McManus at North Carolina Baptist State Evangelism Conference wherein he quotes McManus: “Christians who have followed God for several years who are still asking to be discipled are factory defects (emphasis mine). The dough isn’t rising. Spend your time with a more profitable audience.” (As an aside, the previous quote is in no way intended as a reflection or commentary on JDGreear.com.)

#3 Preach short sermons
Howard Hendricks used to say, “Keep them longing, not loathing.” I buy into that philosophy. I try to speak anywhere between 21 and 26 minutes max. That drives church hoppers nuts because they want to “be fed.” I’m not interested in “feeding people” unless they are in the early stages of their spiritual journey.

Here is what I mean. On Sundays, when I speak. My goal is to create more questions and show my church where to find the answers.

To do that, Bill (Hybles) continued, we need to help people “right-size” what they should expect from the church. The reason that the seasoned believers are more dissatisfied is because they still expect the church to be feeding them . They haven’t been taught to feed themselves. (As an aside, Bill impresses me as being a humble servant. From what I gather, I believe he may be having a change of heart, a change of mind, regarding some issues of church methodology.)

John 21:15

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

 

I would love for some of the men quoted above to tell me again how it is not their responsibility to feed the sheep and then tell me how much they really love Jesus. Those difficult and hungry sheep, how do you react to them? With arrogance and disdain or with patience, grace, and love….and discipline when necessary? What is more an antithesis to Christ-likeness than arrogance? How, to what extent, has the Christ poured His graced upon you? What, then, do you feed the flock – milk, candy, and all to often, a thinly veiled performance-driven legalism lite followed by some vague exhortation to make Jesus famous? How do you teach them about dying to self, a daily taking up of one’s cross, when the church all to often resorts to doing back flips to entertain those who enter through the door? How can you teach the flock – with any shred of integrity – patience, mercy, and love when you hold hungry, imperfect, sheep in contempt? I absolutely affirm and understand the need to spend time in the Bible and in prayer and to live out our faith, but under-shepherds are, without any ambiguity whatsoever, charged to protect and feed the flock. Too many fall short at both because they pitch their tents to close to culture. Too many pastors use numbers (membership, baptisms, conversions) as the sole, and unbiblical, benchmark for ‘success.’ Too many pastors lean on secular business practices and marketing skills to build the kingdom. Too many pastors and laity have an unbiblical disdain for doctrine, lack of biblical understanding, and therein perhaps lies the rotting root of problem.

I am so thankful for the pastors who faithfully exposit the Word of God and look after the flock with tender loving care and humility. I am so thankful for churches, be they reformed, charismatic, free-will, etc that do not conform to the world to make the gospel attractive. Remember that the cross is stumbling block. It is an offense to the church, to the Redeemer, when a pastor removes the offense of the cross to placate the ‘seeker’.

To reiterate,  the root of the problem is not those hungry sheep. The root problem is that the church is being unbiblically redefined. Rather than building up the body of Christ, these pastors use what is to be the gathering of the redeemed to worship as primarily an outreach to the lost. Rather than going out into the the world, the pastor brings the world into the church. Rather than equipping the saints to scatter six days of the week, to go out into the world to evangelize, the are instructed to bring their friends to a church calibrated, more often intentionally or not, to sometimes remove the offense of the cross, a church all to often calibrated to entertain, a personality-driven church where the focus is, without intention, all to often on the pastor and the felt needs of the congregates than the Redeemer. Some will come to heard the Gospel through the noise and repent and believe. Some will have their ears tickled and engage a false assurance. Many will stagnate.