The 1000 Year Debate

Well, we didn’t spend much time on Sunday discussing some of the theological distinctions in matters of eschatology. Before I enter into that fray in a later post; a word regarding our statement of faith. The Evangelical Free Church (Four Oaks’ affiliation of churches) statement of faith has two points regarding ‘last things’:

9. We believe in the personal, bodily and premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.
10. We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.

Let me first say that I think that these two points of the statement are quite wonderfully put and that I do affirm them without reservation. I especially love the reworking of the old statement’s point on ‘imminence’ in number 9. There was a movement in the past two or three years to amend our denominational doctrinal statement- and the statement was indeed amended this year. You can find out plenty about all that over at efca.org.

In the original design of those seeking to amend, there was hope that the word ‘premillennial’ would be removed from number 9. Premillennialism is the conviction that the Scriptures teach, in various passages, but explicitly and very literally in Rev. 20 that Jesus will return and establish an earthly reign for 1000 years. There are many good reasons to hold to such a conviction in eschatology. I affirm a physical, earthly millennial kingdom (it may or may not be a ‘literal’ thousand years, that number perhaps simply referring to a reign that lasts quite some time) without affirming much of the other distinctions surrounding what has come to be known as ‘dispensational premillennialism’ (certain views re: the nation of Israel, the reality or nature of a ‘rapture’, etc.).

Many in our affiliation of churches think that such a conclusion regarding the millennium is not necessary to an evangelical faith; and believe that unity and health in our local churches is very possible while holding to different convictions on the ‘millennial’ issue. These brothers think this distinction should not be a part of our statement of faith and hope that it will one day be removed. Though I do affirm a premillennial position regarding the last things- I agree that such a distinction in matters of creedal affirmation is not in keeping with the ethos of our doctrinal statement generally. For example, our doctrinal standard does not call for an explicit commitment to believer’s baptism or infant baptism. It seems utterly inconsistent to be broad in the area of sacraments which have very direct implications for unity and harmony in the local church and narrow in your eschatology which have arguably less implications for unity in the local church. Though, alas, that was all part of the debate. Ultimately, the fight to remove the millennial distinction lost.

So, I wish the ‘premillenial’ statement could be removed for the sake of broader fellowship while I wish the statement could be narrowed in certain areas (baptism being one; a more intentionally reformed commitment in soteriology being another). That being said, I submit to the distinction for the sake of unity. And the leadership of our local church allows our membership to enjoy full membership if they might hold a different conviction, or (most likely) are not able to fully make such distinctions as of yet. We ask that our members not teach in opposition to this position, or use any platform to bring division or disunity in the body if indeed, they do not have the same conviction. We believe that there are matters we can disagree upon, yet submit lovingly to one another out of reverence for Christ in them for the sake of unity and common mission.

Maranatha!

Parable: A Sunday Meal

A family was preparing for Sunday supper. The Mother was working on the roast and fixin’s while the kids set the table. The Father was resting on the couch after a morning of setting up for church and teaching Sunday School. As was their habit for such family gatherings around the table, they had invited guests to share their meal.

The first guest was a man who claimed to be some sort of relation to the family. The claim was rather foggy, even the parents were unsure as to the nature of the connection. Nonetheless, they were all glad to not only have a guest and friend in the man, but also, perhaps, an uncle or cousin.

Their second visitor was a young man who was not only no relation to the family, but actually somewhat of a notorious scoundrel. He worked with the Father at the office and his profligate lifestyle was well known to all. Nonetheless, Dad had befriended the young sinner and brought him into the comforts and joys of his home.

The discussion around the table was lively indeed. The first guest was quite interesting. He made himself at home around the table in an instant, and acted and spoke as if it were his own family and his own house. This would have been endearing behavior if it weren’t so presumptuous and irritating. His manner of speech was filled with the graces of a thoroughly religious pedigree and he referred to the parents by their first names (he even gave them nicknames!). Yet he complained that the roast was too tough, the gravy too lumpy, and the service a bit slow. He also seemed to be one who frequented the homes of many families, and had sampled delights at many a table about town (he had a list of strengths and weaknesses of each). When one child left the table to refill his drink, he would remark upon the length of the child’s hair to a sister of brother sitting nearby. In all this he was able to make plain his spiritual integrity by humming the latest hit from positive and encouraging Christian radio or referencing his favorite popular Christian author.

The second guest was much less comfortable around the table and was very impressed by the service and the labors of the family on his behalf. He had eater much finer meals but not ever sampled such humble love. His speech was not refined, but peppered with the occasional expletive and attended by a blushing ‘excuse me’. While the family sang the doxology before the meal, the first guest harmonized while he could only move his lips as if he knew the words. He was interested to know more about ‘the heavenly host’ and inquired of the line to the Father. As the Father sought to answer, the first guest offered a sardonic chuckle and fidgeted about as if he had more important matters to discuss.

The meal was over and the Father had quite enough. He looked his first guest squarely in the eye and said, “You have three options. You can sit quietly and learn something, you can get up and help with the dishes, or you can find your own way to the door.”

The first guest was indignant. “How dare you! What would Jesus do?”

The Father replied in a flat tone, “From your response I gather you have chosen the last option. Don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord split you.”

The second guest was quite impressed with the saltiness of the exchange, being a rank pagan and all. He was also a bit fearful that he would be presented with his own set of options. Dad turned to him and smiled.

“Key Lime pie or cheesecake?”

Relieved, the young man responded, “Key Lime, thank you.” The eldest son left to fetch the dessert and the Father resumed their conversation.

Pursuing Biblical and Pastoral Leadership

A couple of weeks back at our Fellowship Group leader/co-leader gathering we talked about the process of pursuing biblical leadership in the local church. I condensed the gist of our time here.

At Four Oaks we affirm (at least) these five principles regarding leadership in the local church:

1. The importance of a spiritual office of leadership in the local church.
As opposed to a primarily pragmatic, utilitarian, and professional office. A pragmatic approach to leadership in the church is primarily concerned with the easiest route to finding 'leaders'. The utilitarian approach looks to get warm bodies to 'get things done' as opposed to finding spiritually called and qualified leaders to fulfill the biblical paradigm. A primarily 'professional' view of leadership in the church consigns the biblical office to only those who have fulfilled certain worldly criteria for leadership (they hold the degree, have so much 'tenure', etc.). A 'professional' understanding of church leadership reserves leadership for a professional class of elites, while the 'layman' exists on some lower tier of service to Christ.

2. The importance of a unified office of spiritual leadership: shared, dispersed, accountable, and understood.
There are three biblical terms for the office of spiritual leadership in the local church: episkopos (overseer, 'bishop'), presbuteros ('elder'), and poimen ('shepherd', pastor). These terms are three synonymous terms used interchangeable referring to one, unified team of leaders in the church (1 Timothy 3:1; 5:17; Titus 1: 5,7; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-4). We may set aside certain elders/overseers/pastors that will devote themselves to a 'full time' vocational ministry for the care of the church. Paul says these men deserve 'double honor', and we may say that they serve as primus inter pares (first among equals). But we must not have tiers of spiritual leadership. There should be equality, unity, and healthy plurality in the leadership of the church. We should go to great lengths to bring our flocks to a proper understanding of this reality. Otherwise the spiritual burden falls upon one class of leader (often the preacher, or those in more visible leadership) or there arises a cult of personality that is unhealthy.

3. The importance of a called leadership: internal and external.
Men must 'aspire' to the office. There must be an internal call that compels by the spirit, so that we are not leading under compulsion by the flesh or the demands of men. The internal call places our duty primarily before God and not before men. This internal calling is recognized and confirmed by God's people (Acts 6; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Tim. 5:22).

4. The importance of a qualified and tested leadership.
We must not let the urgency of need as we see it override the need to have biblicaly qualified leaders. We must be careful to asses qualification according to biblical and spiritual standards above human and worldly ones. This is not a call to rigid legalism in our inspection of leaders- the biblical qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 are patterns of holiness and character, not a checklist for perfection in obedience.

5. The importance of an ordained and sanctified leadership.
It is important to consecrate leaders publicly (and discipline them publicly). People should be able to readily see and know their leaders. There should be no 'star chamber' style of leadership where decisions are made secretively and mysteriously and the flock is called to just follow along. The Scriptures do not establish raw democracy as the pattern, nor does it establish a cold aristocracy. Leaders must lead, people must follow. But this is done through proper ordination, and with constant accountability.

The tremendous, relentless, comprehensive, and unified effort...

"When people say, 'What's been the greatest influence on the life of your children?' The answer, of course, is the work of the Spirit of God. But beyond that it is the tremendous, relentless, comprehensive and unified effort of a whole congregation of people to bring to bear the truth on their young lives."

--John MacArthur, Certainties that Drive Enduring Ministry

Yes and Amen in the Lord. This is why I committed my life to the local church and commit the life of my family to the local church. It God's chosen instrument to display and communicate His grace through the Gospel of Christ to the whole world. What a joy to be a part of it!

Why to Leave a Church- #2 Sound Doctrine

By this I mean the cardinal doctrines of the authority and inspiration of Scripture; the doctrine of God and His Triune perfections; the doctrines of the deity and humanity of Christ; the doctrines of Christ's atoning work and substitutionary sacrifice; the doctrines of the person and work of the Holy Spirit; a healthy ecclesiology; and a doctrinal commitment Christ's return and the final judgment.

As well, there are doctrinal distinctives which may be considered 'minor' doctrinal convictions, yet bind our conscience nonetheless. And, we all recognize that there are a variety of doctrinal questions which flow out of the cardinal issues put forth above. As we pursue unity together, we must be charitable and patient with another on all these matters, all the while seeking to be faithful. This is hard stuff. We are always, in a sense, patiently allowing for disagreement in various doctrinal matters for the sake of unity and common mission. Yet, we also recognize that there are issues that, while not 'cardinal' and primary, they are critical to body life and we must be faithful to live out our convictions regarding them at a local level. For example, I recognize that a conviction regarding women in leadership in the local church is not the same as my conviction regarding the deity of Christ. Yet, I would not be able to in good conscience worship under the leadership of a woman pastor, and so this issue would cause me to break fellowship in the local church. At the end of the day, we are answerable to God for our convictions and commitment to His Word. So we walk together with care and grace, yet bold joy, in matters of sound doctrine.

Why to Leave a Church- #1 Preaching

The title of this post is a bit misleading. I am wary of giving these reasons to leave a church in some sort of strict order. The reason for this being that all these things are, as one of my old profs used to say, 'webs of multiple reciprocities'. What I mean to say is that these issues all form a whole cloth in the church, and it is often difficult to distinguish the failure or abuse in one area from the problems in another. But, we have to start somewhere. And, let me say that I understand the dangers (at least the dangers in a postmodern world of seemingly endless sentimentalism and naive tolerance above all else) of using the via negativa in this discussion. I could've worked in a more positive direction- in which case the title of these posts would be something like 'How to be a Great Church' or 'What Makes a Good Church', etc and so forth. But, the focus upon the modern phenomenon of church dating in American evangelicalism would be lost. So . . .

It is right to leave a church if the preaching is bad. Now, by bad I mean preaching that is woefully lacking in three things: gospel, sound doctrine, and exposition. Now, by gospel preaching I do not mean that the preacher simply offers a three point 'gospel message' with an altar call and a hymn at the end. What I mean is, the gospel of Jesus Christ is displayed through the whole counsel of God's Word. Not to toot my own homiletical horn, but I might offer an example of this in the text we worked through last week: 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 (Lessons on Headcoverings). How can the gospel be on display in such a passage on headcoverings, headship, and submission? How can people be brought to repentance and faith through the truth of God's Word in such a teaching? The goal here is to move away from sheer pragmatism in preaching (which would look like, "How to Have a Healthy Marriage" or "How to Submit to Your Husband" or "How to ..." ) which is fundamentally anthropocentrism in worship (another reason we'll deal with later). This sort of needs based, man centered preaching is becoming the norm in many churches and has always been an enticing idolatry facing believers. It makes man the measure of all things, worldly success and temporal blessing the priority, and minimizes the glory of Jesus' redemptive purpose in all things.

By bad preaching I also mean-preaching that is not rooted in and presenting sound doctrine. We'll talk more about sound doctrine in a bit. I am placing a failure in preaching sound doctrine as a reason to leave a church before a failure in doctrinal statements. This is because I believe doctrine flows out of biblical, doctrinal proclamation. Again, the web of multiple reciprocities is at work here: which comes first- a doctrinal commitment to sola scriptura or preaching scripture which leads us to such a doctrinal commitment? There is a clear priority in devotion to the Scriptures through preaching the Scriptures in the New Testament. This is seen in two strong, urgent charges given to Timothy by Paul:

1 Timothy 4:13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-- with great patience and careful instruction.

Faithful proclamation of the Word and the Gospel is a means to preserving and promoting sound doctrine.

Finally, by bad preaching I mean preaching that is not fundamentally expositional. I have a series of posts on expository preaching that is begun here (click on the preaching label to read all ten posts). I need not say more at this point on that issue.

Why To Leave a Church- An Introduction.

Huh? Well, I didn't say why to leave OUR church...though, I think that will be a great series of posts for the future. In my sermon a couple weeks ago on Fellowship Around the Lord's Table I lamented upon the fickleness of evangelicals related to church hopping. Simply put, evangelicals these days have a very unhealthy and unbiblical view of membership and commitment to the local church. There are all sorts of reasons for this, and greater men than I have written on these issues more thoroughly and insightfully than I ever could (here, here, here, and here). Some of you were sorely vexed by what I said, which went something like this, "many of you are here today and you have left your previous church for some silly reason; if this is so, then I'll be the first to tell you not to stay here because you'll find similar silly reasons to leave us as well". Yes, this sounds ungracious, but is it? I think not, because while I might be inclined to tiptoe around the sensitivities of such a wandering parishioner, I'd be trampling upon the unity and purity of the church.

If one leaves a church for a good and biblical reason, then I would not say this. Many of you are at our church because you have left some other church. And this is not necessarily a bad thing. But if one leaves a church for a silly, mundane, trivial, or even very deeply felt reason (like feelings hurt, that are felt deeply)- which sadly is the case in many instances, then they are hurting that fellowship. That fellowship needs their gifts, resources, and service. That fellowship is their local church family, and should not be treated like the local mall (don't have what I want at Tallahassee Mall? I'll just head over to Governor's Square!). Perhaps there was an offense that should be dealt with through biblical means to resolution and peacemaking. We hurt our brothers and sisters when we don't redemptively pursue them in an offense, and simply run to the community church down the street. We hurt our family when we fail to endure through the latest budget crisis or worship war. We hurt our family when we fail to persevere through the building program, the youth ministry transition, the children's ministry curriculum overhaul (or whatever it might be...these are some examples of recent memory). In running away we are saying that our bond in Christ and fellowship in the Spirit forged and lived out in the local church is not stronger than such typical human struggles and Satanic attacks.

As I said, there are good, biblical reasons to separate yourself from local church fellowship. I've heard many say that you should never leave a church. This represents a failure to recognize the biblical elements that make a church healthy and more pure (since there is no pure church) as important. In a way it is the same sin in the 'church hopping' epidemic. It is failing to see the church and its health and life as critically important. In the one case one is forfeiting the unity and life of the church for trivial matters. In the other case one forfeits the health and life of the church by treating the things that make us a church as trivial and unimportant. It is affirming unity at the cost of purity, which is a dangerous game. Soon we have gatherings of folks on Sunday morning that believe nothing and do less. If you think I'm overstating the case, then check out the overall state of the mainline denominations in America (and the church throughout Europe, for that matter).

So, what are good reasons to leave a church and find fellowship in another local assembly? I'll tackle one reason at a time in upcoming posts.

Ownership vs. Membership

Leadership magazine had a little piece on the emerging trend in churches changing the language associated with traditional notions of 'church membership'. I tried to find the link online, but couldn't- so you'll have to take my word for it. Or you could read this blog post and get a taste for this sort of thing.

Here's the deal. Change is good. Challenging tradition is good. Examining the way and the why of what we say is good. Trying to keep from being a crusty crumudgeon is good. All these things are yea and amen in the Lord. I'm with it. But...

It is important to be biblically faithful. This idea just keeps getting lost in all the scrambling to be relevant to our culture. And, ironically, it is very relevant to be faithful. Hmmm. Yeah, think about it. Think, think about it.

The big deal, the real revolutionary idea seems to be that some are changing the paradigm (and all associated language) of church 'membership' to church 'ownership'. There is a sense in which this is good. Especially as it challenges the notion that membership in the local church is akin to membership in a tennis club, country club, or over at the Elks lodge. But the good brought by such a change of language needs to be weighed in light of the dangers of abandoning the biblical language associated with such notions in the first place.

In the above link (with the unfortunate blog title) it is said that church membership 'isn't actually in the bible'. Ok, Christians- take out your bibles. Now turn in your bibles to Romans 12:4 and Romans 12:5 and 1 Corinthians 12:12 and 1 Corinthians 12 :18 and 12:20 and 12:22 and 12:23 and 12:24 and 12:25 and 12:26 and 12:27 (sigh) and also check out Ephesians 3:6 and Ephesians 4:25 and Ephesians 5:30. Get the picture? Someone needs to put in a call to the emerging church headquarters and let them in on the crazy new thing we have called a 'concordance'. Ok...I know I'm being sarcastic and facetious and all that. But seriously!

Yes, if the practice is bad- change it. If the ethos that is at work in our churches is unhealthy, then change it. But, let's not say that this new language we tag along with our challenge is biblical. In fact, there really is a very UN-biblical aspect to this idea of 'ownership' over 'membership'. One, there really is NO explicit reference to people 'owning' the church in the New Testament. And there are copious references to people being 'members' of Christ, and his body, the Church. I really think that many believers have a very lax and unbiblical view of their place and role in the local church. But, it is dangerous to combat this, often very worldly, laziness with a very worldly sense of entitlement and 'ownership'.

It all gets back to what is lasting in the church as we establish these paradigms for service and community. And what is lasting is what God has designed and communicated in his word. So, we at Four Oaks have 'members'and not 'owners'- because we are members of Christ's body, members of one another, each serving the other, each valuable to the other, none "owning" the other (this 'ownership' is reserved for the Soveriegn head of the church, Jesus Christ), and each deferring to the other, loving each other, and sharing in fellowship with one another.

Sometimes being cool, provocative, and cutting edge is good. But, when it is not faithful to the Scriptures (which are themselves always cool, provocative, and cutting edge) - it is just wrong.

Moore on Mars Hill

No, not Beth Moore. Russel Moore, Dean of the School of Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has written a great piece on the constant reinvention of the church via misinterpretations of Acts 17. Excellent article.

It's Never Enough

I shared the rather woeful stats on giving trends in our body on Sunday. Someone asked me if I got any negative feedback for being so confrontive on this issue. Of course not, people are afraid I'll pull their file!

Of course I'm kidding. But I do want to clarify a few things. First, I do not know what individuals give in our church, nor do I want to. Second, I didn't share these things merely to give people a guilt trip. I believe that it is unhealthy for the leadership to have such knowledge and to bear it without bringing it to the body. Third, I am so thankful and encouraged by the core of faithful and kingdom heart-ed people who truly support the ministry of the local church.

Three things need to happen in our hearts and minds and wills before we see obedience and faithfulness on this issue of generous and sacrificial support of God's kingdom:

1. Someone has said, don't ask me who- but it's a good one- 'your theology comes out your fingertips'. More simply put, theology determines practice and practice reveals theology. So, if your treasure is bound up in the temporal, fleeting, and ultimately perishing then that is where your 'theology' (read: heart) is. Many in our church, and in the evangelical church in general, are man-ward and not God-ward. How do I know? Well, Skip M. our financial dude gave me the rundown. Simple as that.

Until our beliefs, our theological orientation, changes at a heart and conviction level - then there will only be small (guilt driven) change.

2. Paul told Timothy that he must be 'disciplined' toward godliness (1 Tim. 4:7). Our convictions take shape through godly disciplines. If we do not establish disciplines in our spending, budgeting, prioritizing, and giving- then we will not see change. If you are not generously supporting the ministry of the gospel, then you are sinning. You need a change of the conviction and theological perspective. But you also need discipline and accountability. But didn't Jesus say that our own hand shouldn't know what the other is doing? Yes...but this was a guard against self righteous pride, not an escape clause for wise and healthy accountability.

3. The time is now. It will never be enough in this life. There is always a newer car, a better vacation, more clothes, bills to be paid, and mouths to feed. God says that his kingdom and the gospel is to be prioritized above all such things (indeed all such things are to be regarded in the light of the gospel). Life is a vapor. One day, in the blink of an eye, you will stand before God as a steward of all that he is loaned you. Begin your investment now.

Everlasting God, in whom we live and move and have our being: You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You. -- St. Augustine

Piper Seminars - Audio Online

Many of you who hear me speak so highly of Pastor John Piper can go listen to any (and I pray you would listen to them all!) of these wonderful seminars that he taught at Bethlehem Baptist church over the years. These are all provided at Desiring God's website (I've linked them through Justin Taylor's blog, Between Two Worlds)- free of charge. All of Piper's book royalties are funneled into the Desiring God ministry and Bethlehem Baptist and all of his ministry work that can't be boxed is provided free online. The online ministry of Desiring God has been a mainstay of encouragement and strength for me in my pastoral ministry.

My favorite of the seminars is 'Why we believe the Bible'. The notes for all the seminars are provided as well.

Caring for Pastor's Wives

Of course, this is something that hits very close to home. I have commented before on the 'burn out' rate of pastors as being somewhat of a crisis in the church. I truly believe that the neglect of the home and family is a big part of the problem. But, the problem doesn't come only from the pastor's neglect of his family, but also from the church's neglect of the pastors families. Pastor's are reticent to call the church to care for their families- it seems self serving and manipulative. But, it is a necessity- if we take the strain upon pastors and their families seriously.

Mark Driscoll has a great post and vodcast over at The Resurgence. Scroll down to 'Death by Ministry- pt.10" Check it out.

Here are his main practical points regarding the care of a pastor's wife:

• She needs a clearly defined and guarded role.
• She needs some help with the kids and house.
• She needs some help getting to and from church on Sundays.
• She needs a designated parking place.
• She needs a handful of safe relationships with other godly women.
• She needs to choose her own friends and define her own relationships.
• She needs to see her first jobs as Christian, wife, and mother, not free hire for the church.

Pastor's wives, especially those with little ones, have a great burden in ministry- their husbands are up very early on Sunday, and mostly out of the picture till that afternoon (unless we have evening programs!). But, as different than other families whose husbands are up early and out late on any given weekday- our wives have to get the kids up, bathed, fed, looking 'sunday a.m. best', and to church on time and relatively sane. This is a HUGE feat done by yourself (especially with four kids under 6!) and it entails a lot of pressure and anxiety. Then, there are the many nights of entertaining in ministry. Then there are the 'demands' of other families upon the pastors and their families (in terms of interaction, friendship, expectations). In terms of home care, and child care- pastors don't make a ton of cash, and there are frankly not a lot of resources here to spare. There is also the reality that the pastor and his family works, lives, breathes, relates, ministers, etc. in the church. There is no 'escape'- and this is fraught with pressure, fear, and unrealistic expectations. If I paint a bleak picture- I don't do so because any of us are necessarily in 'crisis' - but this is a crisis that is never far from any pastor or any church. We should guard and fight it where ever and when ever we can.

My own church is a very loving, and serving body. There are so many of you who serve and love the pastors and their families faithfully and constantly. Tori and I have received so much care, gifts, love, appreciation over the years. And I know the same goes for our other pastors at Four Oaks. Your care and love is important and felt constantly by the pastors of Four Oaks. I could give so many examples of how our church takes this care seriously and provides the help that I present below (and that Driscoll outlines above). So, this is no rebuke for our church family.

That being said, I think this exhortation must be constant (like so many constant needs and concerns that face us) - and those faithful servants in the church understand that God's people need such exhortations constantly. Hopefully there are some that read this post (outside our church or inside) who need to hear it- even better, whose pastors need them to hear it. If God uses it to this end, then wonderful!

Often times and in many churches the daily, and mundane struggles of maintaining a home and family that face a wife in ministry is not attended to by the church body.

Here are some practical ways you can help your pastors (and I speak of ALL the pastors- not just the Braun's, and not just at Four Oaks):

• offer free babysitting. Be serious about it. If they don't take you up on it, don't be offended (this is a personal thing, and not just anyone can do it- but you can offer).
• offer to clean house (IF you know how to clean a house...don't offer help that is in reality not a help) even better- give a pastor's wife a day of housecleaning from a professional. It goes a long way when someone helps your wife by scrubbing floors and toilets. A LONG way.
• offer to help with the kids on a regular basis- help with homework, homeschooling...help that is regular is wonderful because it allows the pastor's wife to plan and gives constant relief.
• offer to help on Sunday mornings and other heavy ministry days. Again, don't see this as an opportunity to hang with the pastor's wife, but to come and watch the kids while she gets ready, help bathe, feed, get in the car, etc. (it goes without saying I'm speaking to the women of the church). And, again, don't be offended if she declines. This is highly personal territory- and not just anyone can do it. But, it never hurts to offer.
• do little (or big!) things to show her you love her and care for her and her family - bring a meal; give a gift certificate for a massage; give a gift certificate for lunch out; take her kids for the afternoon; write her a note of appreciation and encouragement; offer your vacation house for a weekend getaway (for her or for them!); help with landscaping and gardening; offer whatever your special gifts and talents are to her to bless her, her home, and her family.
• pray for her and fight for her...what? I mean, do spiritual battle for her and her family. Fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil that wants to claim her and her family. Fight against gossip and slander and against her, her kids, and her husband. I can't tell you how important this one is! A pastor's wife is devastated by the slander against her husband or kids. When you hear it- confront it with vigor and vehemence. Send it back to hell, or it will bring hell to a church.

If you attend another church- then please take this to heart and search out ways to care for your pastor's family.

If you attend our church- well... do the same!

Evangelicalism and the New Politics of Personality

I was directed to an interesting article in Harper's by my brother Tim over at BaylyBlog. Tim's post was commenting on the pathetic responses of the Democratic candidates to the question of women registering for the draft. The rather scathing assesment of Rudy's political career by Kevin Baker in the latest Harper's is evidence enough that some of our leading 'republican' hopefuls aren't much of an alternative for those who see a difference between men and women and despise the idea that our mothers, daughters, and sisters should stand in our place in defense of our country (ah, but that is not my point in this post!).

I was struck by one of Baker's introductory statement's regarding the new 'post ideological' age of politics:

"In the new politics the cadidate is everything. The post ideological party distinguishes itself from its rivals not through any particular program or deep moral conviction so much as by the character and charisma of its particular leader - its Sarkozy, or its Berlusconi, or its Clinton - and by its brand selling strategies."

It is interesting how such a statement may stand as an indictment of the current state of evangelical Christianity as well. More and more our churches and our 'movements' are not defined by any ideological, doctrinal, or moral framework but rather by the personality that is sold to us. These leaders themselves ARE the brand, and the publishing houses, mega-church power structures, and market savvy gurus are the might who make right.

I was reading a rather famous and extremely popular bible study guru's latest study materials recently. I was struck at how middle of the road it was, how bereft of real doctrinal clarity, how lacking in any real exegetical work, and how bland it was in application. I had to wonder why this was so popular? The answer of course lies in ourselves to a large degree. But there is, I believe, a more sinister force at work, as cynical and dark as that sounds.

The deal is, this person is marketed flawlessly. Upon entering the local bookstore I felt drawn to the beautiful hair, the sparkling white teeth, the gleam of pastoral love and joy in the eye. The display was sharp, slick, and good looking - overpowering and dwarfing all other materials in its shadow. I felt in my bones a deep longing to purchase this book and fix my life! And of course, this happens in a variety of ways, with a host of teachers, leaders, and Christian self help gurus.

We need to be very concerned with our 'post ideological' and 'personality driven' church. We can fight it by establishing our lives in the midst of covenant relationships under biblical authority and teaching in the local church. This sort of community and leadership should never be replaced by the latest title (and shiny personality) being peddled to us in all its polished glory over at Zondervan.

Emerging Posters

Phil Johnson has some great motivational posters for the emerging church over at spurgeon.org.

Here are a couple of my favorites.

Analyze This?!

Some weeks ago I made a comment from the pulpit to ‘modern therapeutic models’ with reference to dealing with ongoing patterns of sin in believers’ lives. This provoked many to ask the question, and it is indeed an important one, “Should a Christian pursue professional counseling in dealing with crises, problems, and struggles in their lives?” This is one of those rough questions put to a pastor, because no matter how I answer it, I’m darned if I do and darned if I don’t. For many, the very idea of professional counseling is anathema, wicked, and just plain wrong, wrong, wrong. For many others, to question the role and purpose of the ever growing army of professional ‘Christian’ counselors , and their history with a ‘Christian’ counselor in particular, is narrow minded, archaic, and naïve to the extreme. Oh well. It is at this point any pastor, or believer for that matter, must say with the Apostle, “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)

I do believe there are some serious problems with the modern therapeutic approach to dealing with problems, crisis, etc. Do I believe that ‘Christian counseling’ as a profession is innately wrong or sinful? Of course not. Do I believe there is a place for mental health counseling and therapy? Yes- in more limited and defined contexts than seems to be the case in the common ‘therapy’ structure so prevalent today. There is a great deal of ‘grey’ in the Scriptures and a healthy dose of God’s common grace shed on these issues. Far be it from me to go God one better by proclaiming “ichabod” in these matters wholesale. Nonetheless, there are some important warnings and exhortations that we must heed from the Scriptures before we jump headlong into the therapeutic paradigms so common today .

I’ll just give just a few primary ‘warnings’ about what I see as dangers in the contemporary therapeutic models.

A Low View of the Local Church
We need to recognize that all of our struggles stem from sin and depravity (either our own or someone else’s). The solution for dealing with sin is repentance and faith in dealing with our own sin, and leading others to repentance and faith (and reconciliation) in dealing with their sin. We deal with our sin through ongoing formative spiritual discipline and even sometimes through a process of ‘punitive’ spiritual discipline according to Matthew 18:15-20. This process of repentance and change happens under the umbrella of biblical instruction, spiritual authority, and accountability. The context where this process of sanctification is fostered and nurtured is the local church. Now, the local church is the normative covering for spiritual development and growth (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5:1-6:8; Galatians 6:1-2; Col. 3: 12-17), that is to say God can and does work in a myriad ways outside this covering. Yet we are directly instructed in the Word to find our health and formation in the context of the local church.

In my experience, many modern therapeutic approaches (in ‘Christian’ contexts) do not place a proper emphasis upon the role of the local church in this process of sanctification and growth. To put it a bit more strongly, I have gathered a distinct sense that many in the counseling guild see the local church and this biblical environ for change and spiritual formation as almost negligible. While there may be a host of valid reasons for such a low view of the local church, we cannot escape the biblical injunction to live and operate under this covering (however flawed we might perceive it to be).

An Improper Professionalization of Shepherding and Counsel
Simply put, I do not find much biblical warrant for receiving the bulk of our counsel and direction from professional sources outside the patterns of intimate and organic church ‘family life’. Many Christians have little involvement with God ordained pastors and shepherds, or other mature believers and so fill the very valid need for counsel through professional channels. Of course the problem lies fundamentally with the failure of believers to find help and direction through the normal ‘channels’ of God’s grace to us (meaningful involvement in the church, ongoing discipleship and counsel via natural Christian relationships, the daily pursuit of the spiritual disciplines) in such times.

But the problem also lies with the inability of a paid professional to properly address significant problems and needs in a believer’s life through an hourly session within the walls of the counseling room. There is an integration of many factors that bring change and spiritual development in a believer’s life that many expect to receive in a professional therapeutic context, and which this context is unable to deliver. Sadly, I do not see many people that are somewhat ‘trapped’ in a therapeutic cycle referred to the church family as a valid and crucial place for dealing with their problems and issues. I have yet to have one person come to me for guidance, instruction, and care as their pastor under the direction of their counselor. In fact, it is often the case that I have dealt with people in various struggles and crises (often as a direct result of deep patterns of sin) who have been in therapy (sometimes for years) with ‘Christian’ counselors who never even broached the subject of the church’s role (even in a very basic sense) in confronting and dealing with these issues.

Competent to Counsel
It is every Christian’s responsibility to provide biblical counsel and speak into one another’s lives. Sometimes Christians are too quick to assign responsibility and jurisdiction over to the professional therapy realm, when God is calling fellow believers to step into the gap. Let’s face it; despite the proliferation of therapies, medications, and helping models, these have been done little to stem the flow of psychological maladies, problems, and dysfunction. As said above, the framework for such mutual counsel, accountability, and change provided to us as believer’s is through the community of believer’s called ‘the church’. For many this idea of spiritual formation and growth under the direction of God’s ordained pattern for spiritual covering through the local church might be new. But I assure you that this is the normative pattern of Christian sanctification given to us in the Scriptures. Along with the references listed above, I would refer you to these passages regarding Church life and spiritual accountability: Acts 2: 42-47; 20:27-32; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Thess. 5:12-22; 1 Tim. 3:1-8; Titus 1: 5-9; 2:1-10; Heb. 10:19-25.

A Good Starting Point- Take ‘Spiritual Inventory’
The question must be raised, “When, if ever, should we refer someone to a professional counselor?” I almost never follow this course until I help a person or couple take spiritual inventory of their lives to determine if they are taking advantage of the means of grace God has already provided. Some questions in this ‘inventory’ might be: Is this person in Christian fellowship? Do they serve in the church? Do they regularly worship and sit under the preaching of the word? Do they have accountable relationships? Are they taking care of themselves physically? Do they recognize any patterns of unrepentant sin that need to be confronted and reconciled? Are they availing themselves of some basic biblical principles addressing their problems, concerns, and struggles? If not, then counseling will not serve its proper role. If, however, a person is exercising these means of grace, then counseling can be one of the ways God uses to grow that person in grace. Counseling is thus placed into a context where “first things are first” and can be even more effective than if this were not the case.

A Preacher's Plea for the Prayers of His People

Some time back I made a plea to set aside a Sunday to pray intentionally and purposefully for you pastors. I have not been very good at reminding you of this commitment, though I do hope that many of you have remembered on your own and have been faithfully praying for the men who have been called to 'watch over your souls' (Heb. 13:17). Could you help us in that most immense charge to 'watch our lives and doctrine and so save ourselves and our hearers' (1 Timothy 4:16) by praying for us?

A great devotional work that I think should be not far from your bible, devotional notebook, and other resources (concordance- I'm always scrambling about from page to page trying to find that one verse that always eludes me at the point of need; Vine's Dictionary- so I can get a quick grip on the basic Hebrew/Greek meaning of a given word; a good bible software package so you can have a host of these resources at your fingertips- get them online, free at e-sword, or at your local bookstore/gypsy Christian trinket and t-shirt hocker) is a collection of Puritan prayers called The Valley of Vision. It is relatively cheap over at Amazon or Christianbook.com- and also comes in a handsome leather bound easily carryable edition. This wonderful prayer companion has over 200 prayers on a host of topics penned by giants of the Puritan and Reformed faith (Bunyan, Baxter, Spurgeon to name a few). My wife, Tori, pointed out a powerful prayer for 'A Minister's Preaching' yesterday. I have had this book of prayers since seminary, but for some reason this particular prayer never caught me (and me being a preacher?!). It shall be printed out and taped to the inside of my Bible from here on...along with 'A Minister's Bible'- another great one.

A Minister's Preaching

My Master God,
I am desired to preach today, but go weak and needy to my task;
yet I long that people might be edified with divine truth, that an honest testimony might be borne for thee;
Give me assistance in preaching and prayer, with heart uplifted for grace and unction.
Present to my view things pertinent to my subject, with fullness of matter and clarity of thought, proper expressions, fluency, fervency, a feeling sense of the things I preach, and grace to apply them to men's consciences.
Keep me conscious all the while of my defects, and let me not gloat in pride over my performance.
Help me to offer a testimony for thyself, and to leave sinners inexcusable in neglecting thy mercy.
Give me freedom to open the sorrows of thy people, and to set before them comforting considerations.
Attend with power the truth preached, and awaken the attention of my slothful audience.
May thy people be refreshed, melted, convicted, comforted, and help me to use the strongest arguments drawn form Christ's incarnation and sufferings, that men might be made holy.
I myself need thy support, comfort, strength, holiness, that I might be a pure channel of thy grace, and be able to do something for thee;
Give me then refreshment among thy people, and help me not to treat excellent matter in a defective way, or bear a broken testimony to so worthy a redeemer, or be harsh in treating of Christ's death, its design and end, from lack of warmth and fervency.

And keep me in tune with thee as I do this work.

Amen.

This great composition along with 2 Timothy 4: 1-5 are great weapons that I want to arm my heart and soul with as I stand before you each week. Would you pray this prayer (and this passage) with me and for me as I prepare to open up the Word for us each week. It would bless and strengthen me for what is often felt to be an impossible (but wonderful!) job.

Marquee Christianity

Want to have a few good laughs?

Go check out http://www.churchsigngenerator.com/churchsigns.php

Actually, with most of these church signs I often do not know whether to laugh or cry.
I didn't see this one on the website, but it was on a marquee around the corner from me,

"Try + oomph = TRIUMPH!"

Now, that's funny, I don't care who you are. The unbelievers in our midst must think we Christians have all lost our minds. I fear they are mainly right.

I make this solemn vow that Four Oaks shall never put such pablum on our marquee. That is, if we had a marquee. That is, if we had a building to put the marquee in front of. But, alas, the Four Oaks saga continues. I am thinking about going ahead and buying a big church sign and just putting it on my front lawn. I'll put some good stuff on it like, "Repent or Perish!" and "Stop, drop, and roll don't work in HELL!" or "King James was good enough for Jesus and it's good enough for me!" I think my neighbors would dig it.

It'd be a powerful witness.

Fyte the Soundbyte

Earlier this Spring our esteemed worship pastor, Josh Hughes, went to a conference for ministry leaders. Of course he dutifully returned with a handful of rich nuggets of LCD (lowest common denominator) Christianity for me to delight in. One of the sessions at the conference was a discussion of leadership and vision led by a renowned evangelical pastor and ‘leadership’ guru. Right out of the gate it was said that for our leadership to be effective as pastors we must make vision ‘stick’. Ah, yes. You might have thought that effective spiritual leadership has to do with integrity and holiness. Or faithful biblical teaching, perhaps? No sir. You must make vision ‘stick’. This is the key. But, dear pastor, how can we get sticky with our vision?

Glad you asked.

[[sidebar:: I am not necessarily saying that these leaders don’t believe in integrity, holiness, or in faithful biblical teaching- it is just that these discussions of effectiveness, success, and growth are by and large the predominant emphasis in such mega and emerging movements.]]

The way to make vision ‘stick’ is to reduce your vision/goals/mission/purpose to an easy, quick, memorable sentence, phrase, or three word clause. This vision ‘byte’ must be drilled into your people, and should define everything you do and say as a church/organization. The question should always be, “How does this or that help us accomplish our vision”? If such and such can’t or doesn’t move us in that direction, then bag it.

This is part of the evangelical megachurch ethos. I call it ‘mission statement mania’. If you are going to succeed as a church, or as a pastor, you must have a ‘mission statement’ that summarizes and captures the essence of what you’re all about. If you are an effective leader, you have a handful of pithy catch phrases that can be handed out like business cards. And, of course, this can be helpful. If your selling cheeseburgers or boot cut jeans.

We need to remember that effective marketing has to do with selling a product. Getting your product into the market. What are people buying? What do they want? Pastors and leaders with any savvy at all will quickly understand that in order to reach this market, we must tailor our message, our mission, and our ‘soundbyte’ to meet them right where they are.

So, what's wrong with that? Well...

First, we must remember that the message of the cross is foolishness to the world. How do you market something that is foolishness and a stumbling block? Well, you need to eliminate that which is perceived as foolishness. You must remove the stumbling block. With the cross, this takes some serious market savvy. Sadly, this is exactly what is going on in our churches.

Secondly, we need to be careful of false and misleading reductions of the Christian faith. Someone recently told me that there is nothing wrong with mission statements because Jesus gave us one. I reminded him that Jesus’ mission statement for the church was actually an imperative, and it was three verses long with about 45 words (in the Greek)- not really pithy, catch phrasy, and most people mess it up when trying to recite it. Then I also asked him why we must come up with mission statements if Jesus already gave us one? It seems that first century Jewish messiahs need us to make their vision stick. And, yes, we are to be ambassadors. Yes, we are to be all things to all men that we might save some. But this is done for the purpose of ‘preaching the gospel’, not selling, curbing, marketing, or reducing it.

Is it possible for me to reduce who we are and what we are about as a church to a quick slogan? At Four Oaks we do in fact have a ‘mission statement’. It was here when I came as a pastor, and it is still buried in our website (‘to live and spread authentic Christianity’). I don’t disagree with it. I don’t think it is ‘wrong’ as a statement. The problem is, I believe there is so much more to be said about who we are as a church. Whenever we reduce our ‘mission’ to our own crafty statements, we run the serious risk of missing the depth and breadth of our true identity. When that happens we also run the risk of ‘selling’ something other than who we are (and who Christ is!) in the marketplace of the world.

Quick assignment: sum up the essence of who you are in a single sentence. You’ll discover immediately how difficult (if not impossible) and unhelpful this can be.

Lastly, consider the fact that we find no such sloganeering in the Scriptures. Unless we isolate out verses like, "For me, to live is Christ and die is gain." Ugh. That sucker won't sell these days, now will it? Paul sought to give the Ephesian church not a simple vision summed up with a catchy sentence but 'the whole counsel of God' (Acts 20:27). Consider the closest thing we get to a 'vision statement' for the church in Ephesians 4:12-16:

to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Go ahead. Slap that one on the church marquee.

More On Moore

It seems that my comments on Beth Moore, buried in my recent post on Ted Haggard, have raised the ire and at least the concern of some. Interestingly, the Democrat ran a rather lengthy article in last Saturday's religion section singing Moore's praises and noting her significant popularity and influence in the Christian community. It seems my rather offhand comments were either timely or untimely, depending on your perspective.

The concerns have variously been, as voiced to me: I am against Beth Moore; I think she is a bad teacher; I don't think that women should be in a Beth Moore study and I don't think women should be leading a Beth Moore study.

Let me address each one of these concerns as best I can while making some further comments of my own.

1. I am not against Beth Moore. I simply voice what I think, at least I hope, are ultimately helpful and healthy biblical concerns and criticisms regarding the method of study she presents, some of the content of these studies, and the sort of sway she has within local churches. This is my role as a pastor, whether you like the way I voice such concerns (which I have done in a variety of ways) is one thing, but dismissing the point is another. I'll grant you that I am not the most 'irenic' of sorts, it's a general weakness of mine, sometimes it is a strength- I'm working on it. I would express such concerns about anyone who served such an influential teaching role in the church. If we offered two John MacArthur studies this Spring for the men, or two R.C. Sproul studies, or two studies by (fill in the blank), I would offer concerns and criticisms, and try my best to bring these outside teaching ministries under the authority and leadership of the elders and pastors of the church.

Let me say some affirming and encouraging things about Moore:

• She has called women to bible study and has led a very revolutionary move back to God's Word.
• She is a compelling and gifted teacher and communicator.
• She is, by what I can see, a godly woman who loves the Lord wholeheartedly.
• She clearly points everyone to the ultimate authority and trustworthiness of the Bible.
• She is, by all accounts, very evangelical in solid in many of her doctrinal convictions.
• God has obviously used her greatly to encourage and build up women through her teaching of the Word.

2. I do not think that Beth Moore is a 'bad' teacher. I actually think she is a very gifted and able teacher/communicator. I have said that I do have concerns that her style can be fairly 'unexpositional'- I have read through a lot of her studies and sometimes have a difficult time understanding where she gets some of her points and application directly from the text at hand. I also am concerned that while many of her studies are 'biblical' studies, they are often very much centered on and marketed around her. Sometimes I am not so sure as I talk to women who are greatly influenced by Moore that it is a great love for the Word they are drawn to, but rather a great love for Moore. These are always dangers and we should always be careful of this sort of 'cult of personality' in our evangelical subculture. This was my point in the previous post- we should be careful of the 'celebrity-ism' that infiltrates our churches. I do wish that Moore presented a more enduring 'inductive' method centering on the Word, rather than a more distinctly 'leading' study. It's the whole 'give a man a fish and you'll feed him today; teach a man to fish and you'll feed him for a lifetime' principle.

3. I am fine with women being in a Beth Moore study, and I am fine with women leading Beth Moore studies. If this were not so, we wouldn't offer them at Four Oaks (we offer two now). I simply want us to recognize that we have a duty to study and teach the Word to one another- and the New Testament paradigm ( as I see it, and I might be wrong) is one of appointing those with wisdom, biblical maturity, and time in preparation from our midst to do the work of teaching and equipping in our local churches. We should try our best to not be so heavily reliant on outside, and relatively unknown sources for our teaching and doctrinal input. I believe that ministries like Moore's should essentially be in the business of calling women in the church to study God's Word and use their gifts in the local church, and this should ultimately put such 'distance ed' ministries out of business.

I also think we should be very careful to submit our lives, our understanding and application of Scripture, and our doctrinal commitments to the elders and pastors called to shepherd us. So, if you are in a Moore study, be sure that you are also under the teaching of a pastor and under the leadership of a local church. If you are leading a Moore study, be sure to submit the study to the leadership and be sensitive to the commitments of your church and how the study might be in disharmony with your own leaders (a good example of this I have seen in the Moore studies have been some of her more distinctly 'Arminian' convictions that I, and many more reformed pastors would take issue with). But this should be the rule with any video study under any 'outside' teacher, or book study outside the bible that you go through in a small group, fellowship group, or men/women's study.

As with so many things I say, I hope I perhaps resolve some of your concerns, though I'm sure I might be raising more. And so it goes...

The best I can say to encourage all of you is to love and glorify God, live for the gospel, stay constantly in the Word, be faithful in prayer, be committed-submitted-connected to your local church, and grow in grace. And all God's peeps said, "AMEN!"

Soli Deo Gloria

Some thoughts on Haggard

Well, Haggard has broken his silence! Inquiring minds that must know can read the Denver post article: http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci_5164921. If you must NOT know- good for you and go on about your bidness in peace.

The verdict is in! Ted isn't 20% gay, he's not 40% bisexual, he's not 18% transgendered...

HE'S COMPLETELY HETEROSEXUAL!!!!

Now we can all relax, breathe a big sigh of relief, and go back to our normal, 75-99% heterosexual lives.

What do I think about all this? Not too much, as you all know, I rarely have an opinion in such matters and even rarer is my voicing of any such opinion. And if you believe that, I've got a few acres of prime church property down in Crawdadville for you to take a looksie at.

Here's a few things we need to keep in mind as we see this tragedy play out and as we will no doubt see more of this in the future:

1. We should be very careful about our little evangelical 'cults of personality'. This is not the way the bible calls us to heed and follow our teachers/pastors/leaders. When we prop up 'talking heads' in our lives that are outside the bounds of local church accountability, we open ourselves up to danger and abuse. I have few people that I entrust my time and energy to as my 'teachers' in this capacity. You have heard me speak highly of Pastor John Piper's ministry and influence in my life- but much of this influence is because I know that John is committed to the local church, to open accountability with his elders and people, and his public ministry outside of Bethlehem Baptist is secondary to his ministry to his own flock there. This is one of my criticisms of Beth Moore and our adoration and commitment to her teachings around the country and the world. We should be careful in getting the bulk of our teaching and service in the Word via video and workbook of a woman we have never met and have little to no personal knowledge of. One reason I have a greater respect for Kay Arthur's ministry through Precept is because the studies are primarily driven by an inductive method of examining in the text, with her teaching being secondary in the process. This is not so in the Moore studies. Our primary reception of the Word should come through the living and personal ministry of elders and pastors in our local bodies (it is just a gentle criticism, no need to freak out...I'm not telling you to drop out of your Beth Moore study...I just offer it as an example. The same can be said for a whole host of other evangelical teaching ministries).

2. We should be careful about 'cults of personality' in our local churches. We should recognize leadership and gifting for the sake of the edification of the church without building a church upon the leadership and gifting of one man. We are an entertainment driven culture, and we desire entertaining and charismatic leaders on Sunday morning as much as on television and the big screen. This is dangerous stuff. There is a tension here- and I feel it in my ministry at Four Oaks- teachers and preachers are often powerful and charismatic sorts of people. We need not deny this reality. But, the Scriptures call for a plurality of leadership, and a very real accountability for these leaders in the church to hold their influence, power, and egos in check. I am a powerful personality- no question. But let me assure you that I have a pastoral team and a group of elders who lead and rule this church and will take absolutely no crap from me whatsoever (pardon my French). When you've got a guy spending a great deal of time in hotels, buying hundreds of dollars of meth, and spending hundreds more on sexual trysts with gay prostitutes- there has been a major accountability glitch. We must guard against this force in our personality driven megachurch age. I hope that the leadership of New Life Church has repented of such a failure on their part and are establishing biblical safeguards against this for the future of that church.

3. Sin is sin. Homosexuality is sin. Promiscuity is sin. Drug abuse is sin. I really do not understand why we buy into the silly language that is forced upon us by the 'gay' community and the world. What do Ted, and his 'counselors', mean when they say he is 'completely heterosexual'? He is a man, made in God's image, and he is called to obey and glorify God with marital sexual expression and intimacy with his wife. Anything outside of this is sin. It isn't being gay, either 5% gay, or 90% gay, or 'completely gay'. Being gay is not an identity. It isn't who you are. The compulsion towards sexually aberrant behavior might be very strong, it most often comes from a variety of realities and struggles, it is not 'simple' to overcome, and most certainly powerfully manifested in our lives. But it isn't who we are.

Furthermore, I'm confused- how many hours, days, weeks of therapeutic nonsense did Ted go through to come to this conclusion? And whose idea was it to remove him from those to whom his life and ministry are accountable? And should we be comforted that Ted will not be going back into public pulpit ministry, but will be getting a degree in and presumably practicing psychology? Fitting that he would leave the priesthood of megachurch gurus and vector via his falling into the other sacred order of priests in America- counselors and psychologists.

I suggest he sell vacuums, love and care for his wife and kids, sit in the third row from the front at church, and maybe help clean up after potluck. I think that he could receive more grace from such a common life of faith and fellowship than twenty degrees in psychology or theology, ten books on forgiveness and being a wounded healer, and thousands of hours of counseling from Dobson, Campolo, MacDonald, or whoever else.

Take a moment and pray for your pastors and elders. Pray for accountability, pray for purity, and pray for humility. "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall".

God, keep us close to your Word, full of your grace, and in fellowship with your Spirit and one another. For your sake, and not ours, sustain us and keep us. Amen.