A Mile Wide and an Inch Deep

  

Now that I am an older man and have put in “my time” as a pastor, I hope I have earned the right to share my evaluation of the state of the evangelical church in America today. I remember those euphoric days back in the 80's when we were the Silent Majority, or so we claimed to be. Evangelicals, or at least those who claimed to be “born again” Christians, were no longer a small, fringe movement. We had become a political cause to be reckoned with, and we were going to change the world. We were the Kingdom of God unleashed to save our culture and take back our “Christian Nation.”

Ah, but were those really the best days of the Church? Or, had we lost our vision and replaced our biblical mission?

In cleaning out the old files that I mentioned in the previous blog I discovered an article by Joseph Bayly that had been published in the January, 1984 edition of Eternity magazine. Joe Bayly was, in my opinion, a prophet. He had the deep perception to see what others missed, and his writings often challenged our corporate Christian conscience. Writing thirty two years ago, Bayly’s article serves as a clarion call to the contemporary Evangelical church in America. 

In the editorial, Bayly shared a brief story about a man who had visited Dachau concentration camp in Germany. Reflecting on the Holocaust, the man asked an Episcopal priest, John Westerhoff, “How could this have happened in the land of Luther and Bach?”

Westerhoff responded, “That is easy to understand, The Christian church had become concerned with the here and now; it had lost its vision and for forgotten what the Bible teaches- ‘without a vision the people perish.’ But, Hitler remembered and gave our people a vision.”

For emphasis Bayly repeated those words, “The Christian church had become concerned with the here and now; it had lost its vision.” Bayly’s next words reflect his prophetic gift: “Is it possible that those fateful words will be used by some future commentator to explain the current conservative Christian situation in the United States?” 

Please bear with me as I share just a few more of Bayly’s prophetic words.

“The American church is a ‘here and now’ church…" he said, " Pie in the sky has long since been replaced by pie on the plate, godliness by success. Jesus said, ‘Fear not little flock’; we say, ‘We’re a big flock now, a significant force in American politics, who’s afraid?’ Jesus said, “In the world you shall have tribulation’, we say, ‘In the world you shall have prosperity.’ Jesus said, ‘I have overcome the world’; we say, ‘We have overcome the world.’”

I write with deep frustration because I dare not share more insights from Joe Bayly for fear of becoming too verbose. But, I am one of those “future commentators” Bayly spoke about thirty two years ago. Contemporary Evangelicalism has lost it biblical vision. We are like a river that is a mile wide and an inch deep. Sound, biblical theology has been replaced with “feel good” philosophy. The Gospel Paul preached and eventually gave his life defending has been replaced with a prosperity gospel promising its followers a really good life here and now.  Instead of reflecting the meekness Jesus spoke of and exhibited, we are proud and assertive.

I am deeply alarmed by this current presidential election cycle. I struggle, when proclaimed Evangelical pastors and presidents of Evangelical colleges publicly throw their support for a candidate that, from my perspective, shares none of our biblical values. When I read a quote from a Charismatic Evangelical pastor saying “Donald Trump may be one of us,” I cringe. How, under God’s heaven, can any person who boasts" he has never asked God for forgiveness" be one of us? When did repentance fall out of our vocabulary? God values humility. Trump is the epitome of narcissism. He claims to love everybody, especially Evangelicals. In reality, I believe he only loves himself.

Am I angry? Yes! Sometimes, I sense it is a righteous anger. Other times, I confess it is just carnal. I need to pray for each our candidates to personally experience the power of the gospel. May they have the courage to do what is right, and not just follow their party lines. My deepest frustration is not with any of the present candidates; it is with those Evangelical leaders who claim to be followers of Jesus, yet they publicly support a candidate that reflects few or none of the values of Jesus. 

Yes, I grant them (and you) the freedom to vote as you choose. But, to say this candidate is “one of us” is absurd.

Our Christian forefathers recognized there are two cultures- two cities as they described them: The City of God and the City of Man. This present world and all it represents is not my home. I am an alien passing through. I am an immigrant trying to make this world better as long as I live here, but my heart and my passion is for the world to come. Meanwhile, that blessed hope must spur me on.

As much as I love pie, my favorite pie will not be enjoyed here but “pie in the sky” to come when I am finally home.

It Was All about Relationships

  

Welcome to my blog site. It is my desire to share insights that occasionally rise to the surface of my old brain and tarry for more than a few moments. It is my prayer that God will use these thoughts to encourage each of us. Some of you already know me. Perhaps I will meet new friends as well.

First, for those who do not know me, let me share a brief history. Yes, I am an old retired (really just retreaded) preacher. By the grace of God my wife, Mary, and I have served in local churches in Ohio and Oregon for over forty five years. The last ministry was here in Bend, Oregon at The Foundry Church (formerly First Baptist Church). I retired from the lead teaching pastor position February, 2014. Presently I am involved as a volunteer in several ministries both locally and abroad.

Today I was going through boxes and boxes of old files filled with sermon notes and theology class notes that I have taught. But, one particular folder that caught my attention a few hours ago. It was marked, “Keepers for Blue Mondays.” Over the years most pastors receive a few anonymous messages that are meant to hurt. Fortunately, I learned early on to throw them away. But, I have received more than my share of positive letters and notes. Some were so timely and encouraging that I kept them in my “Blue Monday” folder. When times got tough I would pull out a few "Blue Monday Letters just to be reminded that God had and was using our ministry to help transform lives and marriages.

As I was trying to clean out the folder because of the lack of space in my home office, my attention was captured by a few of the letters so I stopped to read them again. It was a valuable reminder that ministry is not about sermons but relationships. The encouraging messages were so diverse. Let me share a few examples.

I read a four page, handwritten letter from a man who had attended a church we pastured prior to coming to Bend. The writer asked for forgiveness for his actions that resulted in being placed under church discipline. His bitterness resulted in years of rebellion against God acted out in addictive behavior and even a suicide attempt. But, he wrote me to share his story and to thank me for the courage of carrying out the necessary discipline. He eventually entered into ministry with people struggling with addictions. As I read his letter today, I struggled with tears. But, they were tears of joy. It is all about relationships- caring enough to confront. I am now enjoying communication with my restored brother.

When I accepted the call to our former church in Portland I was warned by a person in a place of authority to watch out for a certain man in the church who would be a thorn in my flesh and who would resist anything we tried to change in the once thriving church that was now in death throes. In my “Blue Monday” folder I found four or five letters I kept from this gentleman who became a close friend and due to his age, a mentor to me. I read his letters today and was reminded that it really is about relationships. This man became the key change agent when we voted to sell the old run down building and relocate debt free in a brand new building. I am so glad I didn’t take the advice of the person who warned me to avoid this man. Let us never judge the book by its cover or by what a critic said about it.

Another emotional time for me this afternoon was reading a few of  close to a dozen letters and notes from a wonderful woman at Foundry Church. Margo was one of those people who experienced rejection and pain from peers as a child and adult due to a genetic disease that did not permit her to smile and left her physically disabled. But, the Margo we knew in our church family was beautiful. She was gifted with the ability to put words on paper so eloquently. Margo passed into the presence of her Lord a couple of years ago. When I officiated her memorial service I was able to preach by simply reading excerpts from her letters to me.

The music playing in the background as I write this is the song, “Better is One Day in Your Court than Thousands elsewhere.”  Tonight Margo is experiencing the lyrics of that song. I don’t know when we get our new bodies in heaven, but I am confident Margo is smiling in the presence of Jesus, the one person who always loved her and valued her as someone special. Again, reading the “Blue Monday” letters reminded me not to judge a person by appearance. Through my relationship as pastor and friend, I discovered one of the most intelligent, gifted and beautiful persons I have ever met.

So, as I reflect on 45 years of ministry, I can’t recall many sermons I preached (especially at my age I can easily forget what said a few minutes ago). But, I can recall hundreds of wonderful people who encouraged me by taking the time to drop a note or share a word of affirmation.

It really is all about relationships. Oh, how I wish I had realized that much, much earlier in the ministry.