A little break ...

This week (at least 4 nights of it), I'll be on this:









I was blessed to find an awesome deal for a 4 night-cruise to the Bahamas (cheaper than staying at the Holiday Inn, Port St. Lucie for 4 nights), so I couldn't pass it up. I guess being smack-dab in the middle of hurricane season had something to do with the low cost, but it looks like all we're gonna get is rain.

For the last 10 years or so, Cecilia and I have always tried to get a little time away sans kids. Usually, it's just a night or two, but this time we're taking a couple extra. I think it's important for a healthy marriage to do whatever it takes to remind each other that relationship comes first. If it's not healthy and happy, the home won't be and the kids won't be. So that's why I'm going.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

See you guys in a few days!

Pulpit Crimes - Part 2

The following is the second half of a discussion of James R. White's Pulpit Crimes: The Criminal Mishandling of God's Word.

5. FELONIOUS EISEGESIS

Of all the 'crimes' noted by White, this is the one I find most common today - especially by pop preachers who run the circuit of TBN appearances and host their own televised services. Here's how White describes it: "When the Bible is mishandled and sloppily proclaimed, men's ideas take the place of God's truth. Reading into the text ideas and concepts that would have been foreign to the original writers and far beyond their intention is called eisegesis rather than the appropriate activity of exegesis." For clarity, understand that exegesis is the primary task of sermon preparation. It's not easy, nor can it be done quickly. White defines the task as this: "Reading out of the text its original meaning by careful attention to the grammar, syntax, the lexical meanings of words used by the author (as they were used in his day and in his area), and the overall context of the document." Citing several examples of contemporary preachers guilty of such abuse of scripture (again, without naming names) White makes a compelling case that either thru a) ignorance thru lack of education and/or study, or b) willful deception, many teacher/preachers are using the Bible to say what they want it to say rather than what it actually says. In their hands, the Bible becomes some sort of a magical talisman. Variant translations are used according to how they support the presuppositions of the preacher's message, not according to how faithfully they represent the original language's intent. White does a great job addressing one of the primary contributors to eisegesis: tradition. We have to guard ourselves against reading into scripture what we want to see because that is what we have always been taught, or because that's what our tradition holds to. The real question is this: Do we believe God has given us a revelation of clarity and direction that is timeless? If we consider God's Word to be holy, we must treat it with the most careful consideration and teach it with fear and reverence.

6. CROSS-DRESSING

White's chapter on the proper biblical roles for men and women will certainly stir controversy in a church culture that has largely rejected biblically defined gender roles. Holding to the traditional (and thoroughly biblical) view that God specifically and exclusively called men to be elders/pastors, White says, "Can, or more importantly, should a woman have a position of authoritatively proclaiming God's will to the entirety of God's flock? Clearly, if a church or denomination does not believe the Word is to function as the norm for answering such questions, the answers given will be significantly more varied. However, for those who do believe the Word sufficient to express God's will, the answer to the question seems straightforward." Paul's words to Timothy form the basis of discussion in this chapter. The common opposing argument/response people (and even pastors) make today is that Paul was either a) simply expressing his own opinion and not God's (a ludicrous assertion and truly frightening when you consider all its potential ramifications ... at what other times are the apostle's words his own and not God's? It's a ridiculous concept), or b) it only applied to the culture of that particular day and age. While the first argument fails due to its utter ridiculousness (assuming the reader believes in inspiration at all), the second might be tenable IF THE CLEAR CONTEXT OF SCRIPTURE DIDN'T INDICATE OTHERWISE. Paul refers to the established order of God begun in Genesis as the basis of this teaching, not any Greek societal norms, or even Hebrew/Jewish practices. He teaches it as the will of God. So to disagree, you must take one of the following steps:

• Scripture is not authoritative.
• Paul was not inspired.
• If our culture deems something appropriate that scripture deems inappropriate, it must have been a cultural issue, not a mandate.
• Or, as some in our own area have done, simply "decree" that God has given a new revelation that supersedes His written one.

In any case, the careful study of scripture should give us our answer - not popular opinion, nor eisegesis, nor even so-called "bible experts". (White rightly notes in the first chapter of his book that, "Every point of Christian truth is denied by some scholar, some religious leader.")

7. BODY COUNT

White poignantly addresses the modern phenomena of "church-hopping" in this section of his book. He describes this person as "always looking for the best music, the best preacher, the best set of programs to 'meet my needs'" In this culture of shopping-center churches, we have lost our sense of community, connection, and mutual commitment. The church, he says, is now "geared toward the 'seeker', the 'worshipper' (instead of the one worshipped), and the fulfillment of 'felt needs'". Membership fades in importance, people are more transient than ever, discipleship and accountability can never take root, and the pastor/shepherd is left with a 'flock' he cannot possibly know or minister to. The challenge is this chapter - consistent with the theme of the book - is that the burden for addressing this culture falls on the preacher. Truly we are guilty at times of cultivating audiences (even "fans" - my word - not his) in place of genuinely building fellowships of believers growing, learning, and serving together. We have created this man-centered faux-religiosity and then when cry when those same people - "won" to the church in selfishness - also leaver the church because it no longer suits them.

White addresses two other (less common, I think) "crimes" in the modern church:

8. IDENTITY THEFT

Misuse of the ordinance of the church - baptism and communion - is the topic next addressed. The 'crime' most often seen in baptism, White notes, is the teaching that our confidence should be in the act of baptist rather than it what it represents, and also in the desire by many churches to baptize as many as possible without thought to discipleship, or even evidence of genuine salvation prior to the baptism. regarding the Lord's Supper, he states that "the primary pulpit crime related to the Supper is apathy." He states that we have largely marginalized the event and that most of our congregants cannot even express a meaningful theology behind the ordinance. Again, the burden falls on the pulpit.

9. WARRANTY FRAUD

In this final section, White defends (very briefly) the doctrines of grace and the Lordship of Christ. Noting that many churches call people to "believe" in Him, without a call to live for or follow Him. He says that many churches today "warranty a person's salvation but do it fraudulently". Here is how:

"Salvation is by faith and faith alone. Faith, for these teachers, is a very specific, but limited thing. It involves simple mental assent to the most basic facts about who Jesus was. All one must do is believe in Jesus for eternal life, and at that point the transaction is sealed and finished. There is no repentance. There is no turning from sin, sorrow from sin, or anything of that kind. And what is more, you can stop right at that point, never progress any farther, never grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, never become a disciple, a follower, never practice righteousness or love your brother or anything of the kind ... you can deny Christ, become an atheist ... It really doesn't matter! You have your ticket punched ... Faith alone! That's all you need."

This shallow, easy-believism does not find its roots in Scripture. This is not at all consistent with the orthodox concept of sola fide (faith alone). Instead, it is nuda fide (faith without substance).

His final indictment of this teaching is: "This 'Jesus will be your Savior but He surely does not need to be your Lord' kind of teaching is thoroughly man-centered. It leaves no basis for the glorification of God in the Gospel. God is denied His sovereign rights to have a purpose in the great work of redemption. He is reduced to a dispenser of fire insurance policies whose highest purpose is helping briefly interested individuals to escape a nasty end, but no more. This is a caricature, at best, of the Gospel."

This is not a sit-by-the-pool read. It's a provocative introduction to serious theological issues that have profound effects on churches and Christians. White's writing style is abrasive and strident, but his arguments are forceful and compelling. Even if you disagree on some point or contention, you will feel compelled to search out a better answer in the Scriptures, and that's always a good thing. I have summarized much of the book in these last two days, but if you want to read more, I encourage it.

Pulpit Crimes - Part 1

James R. White has written a scathing review and rebuke of modern American preaching in his book Pulpit Crimes: The Criminal Mishandling of God's Word. White notes how preaching has become in many (if not most) churches an entirely "human activity with human aims and results." Pragmatism is the new overriding standard. If it "works" (meaning, if it draws crowds, manipulates responses, or is popular and unoffensive), then it is "good preaching". Lost in our modern philosophy is the very power of the Gospel message itself. Lost is the authority of God's Word as ultimate authority. Lost is the solemn nature of standing before people declaring "thus sayeth the Lord".

White says: "The Apostles of Christ would not have recognized a large portion of what claims to be founded upon their teachings today, and we show them no respect nor do honor to the God of Scripture, when we call "Christian" that which is fundamentally opposed to the heart and soul of the faith." (p.3)

The biblical text that forms the basis of White's critique is Paul's personal statement about the purpose of his preaching and the power behind it:

1st Corinthians 1:17-21 (NASB-U)
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

Included in Paul's statement in his awareness that he can - by mishandling God's Word - empty the cross of it's power. When we substitute "man's wisdom" or "clever speech" or "human insight" for the "foolishness of the message preached" we fatally mislead the very people God called us to lead.

Paul calls the mishandling of God's Word "pulpit crimes". Who commits these 'crimes'? White says there are two primary groups:

"First, there are those who commit pulpit crimes because they simply do not believe there is any law against which they are in rebellion. Many, if not most of these willful criminals should not even be included in the roll-call of the saints. Included in this group are those who, through their rejection of fundamental Christian doctrines such as inspiration or revelation itself, stand behind pulpits erected by earlier generations of believing Christians in denominations that once held forth the word of life. Today, because those denominations have long since ceased holding to any kind of meaningful message, they continue to "do church", mainly running on inertia."

Of the second group, White says, "The second group is composed of those who confess the truth that is in Jesus. They profess to believe the Bible. They may well be amongst the elect of God. But, because of ignorance of sound biblical teaching, they allow human tradition and human imagination to override the plain rule of Scripture, resulting in some of the most damaging of pulpit crimes ..."

Here are the specific "crimes" White addresses (along with some of my comments on them):

1. PROSTITUTION
White defines this crime in two different ways. First he describes preachers who are "peddling of God's Word" for profit. Some of his strongest rebuke (without naming names) is saved for the "Word-Faith" teachers who unashamedly teach that it is God's will that Christians be rich and possess the things of the world. Calling their theology a "perversity" of scripture, he says, "Every single one of their defenses share one thing in common: an incapacity to bear close examination in light of ALL of scripture. It is easy to latch on to a promise here, a proverb there, a statement there, and in so doing build a theology about how the sons of God are supposed to live as kings in this life. However, as the simplest Christian reading his bible knows, there is a good deal of material about suffering, difficulty, persecution, crucifying our sinful desires, mortifying the flesh, and all sorts of other things that put a lie to these false teachers' house of cards."

The second form of prostitution in the pulpit is the preacher who trims, mutes, or obscures portions of God's truth so that he does not lose his 'base' or audience. By leaving out that which is "hard" or "controversial", many preachers and churches today are gutting the Gospel. "Who loses in all this?", White asks. The answer: "God's glory, the gospel, the church as a whole, the minister personally, and the true sheep of God."

The tragedy of the modern "prosperity Gospel" is a subject I have addressed before. Obviously it has taken deep root in our religious culture. It permeates Christian TV and even grows popular in our local churches. But it's not the Gospel. It's emphasis (to the de-emphasis of actual truth) is creating pseudo-churches of people who seek a God who serves them rather than seeking to serve a Holy God.

As for sell-outs in the pulpit, surely those exist as well. The pressure to survive in the ministry is great. When the person in the pulpit is no longer honored and respected as the Bible requires, he becomes an employee of the people, rather than a servant-shepherd of the Most High. Then, as he tries to satisfy or satiate his audience, he is tempted to trim the corners of truth. The Bible says such would be the case throughout the history of the church. Paul told Timothy in 2nd Tim. 4:3 (NIV): For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
Pastors today are largely disposable. Tenure in the pulpit is tragically low. In our denomination, the average is 18 months. 18 months to build a ministry of teaching the whole Word of God! Is it any wonder than there is pressure to preach what people want to hear? Many of my peers fear for their very jobs. They lack support of church leadership (elders and deacons) and they lack a biblically knowledgeable congregation that not only accepts biblical preaching, but demands it.

2. PANDERING TO PLURALISM
Following the unwritten mantra of modern Christianity, "thou shalt not offend", many churches today no longer stand on the exclusivity of the Gospel. White notes, "Christianity makes a claim that be definition forces it to stand apart from the rest of man's religions. If, in fact, God has entered into His own creation uniquely in the person of Jesus Christ, then He, and He alone, is the only way by which one may come into the presence of God ... when the ambassadors of Christ are willing to present Him as one way amongst many, the cross is denied, the gospel rejected."

Today the pressure is on pastors and Christians to be "loving" as the highest virtue. To be "loving" in the minds of many is to never confront, never correct, and never ever offend. But it is the very words of Scripture that call the Gospel message an "offense". We possess an entirely unique message that the world must hear! As White noted, how can it be "loving" to allow humanity to continue in its deception when all it will do is bring them to God's judgment without hope and without forgiveness? In our very day, entire denominations that once stood firmly on the Gospel message are in full theological retreat, running scared from the exclusivity of Christ as the means of salvation. In so doing, we who have the power are locking heaven and unlocking hell for millions.

3. COWARDICE UNDER FIRE
Fearing the dreaded label of "narrow-minded fundamentalist", and unwilling to pay the price (loss of popularity, support, or even open opposition) for the message he is called to convey, many pulpits today are silent on the issues of the Lordship of Christ. Fearing reprisals at any level, we have removed the preaching of the holiness of God and the judgment of God. Many churches today ignore the modern moral issues that undermine the very credibility of the Word and the church that is to be founded upon it. Divorce, abortion, homosexuality, injustice, are largely unaddressed. And "sin" is a rapidly vanishing concept - even in our churches. White quotes Martin Luther, who said: "If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ."

I'll never forget sitting and talking with Dr. D. James Kennedy about pastoral leadership when he spoke to the subject of cowardice in the pulpit. He told me of being at a conference of mostly laypeople when the subject of preaching on moral issues was raised. The vast majority of those in attendance said their pastors did not speak on the pressing subjects of the day. When asked why, the predominant answer was "fear". He looked me in the eye and asked me, "Tell me this - how can you expect people to follow you when they think you are a coward?"

4. ENTERTAINMENT WITHOUT A LICENSE
It's clear that White is no fan of modern contemporary worship (the casualness, the music, the seating, even the coffee finds itself in his cross hairs). While I think that much of what White rails against is merely a matter of personal taste and a reflection of his "culture" clashing with another (and are intrinsically amoral issues as a result) he does make some excellent points about the theology and philosophy behind much modern worship.

What is our FOCUS - as in - who gets it? White essentially asks, "Is the focus/center of the "worship service" supposed to be the worshipper? Is it to be the lost person coming from inside? Or God himself?" The answer to that question is all important, for it establishes the purpose of gathering together. White notes a propensity in the modern church to focus on the two former (worshipper and lost person) than on the latter (God himself). The results are disastrous. When our theology is man-centered, our message will be man-centered, and our worship will follow. Again, White mentions pragmatism as the prevailing philosophy of our times - if it works and people like it - it must be good. Instead of trusting the pure power of the Gospel, we are relying on entertainment to entice them and then persuade them to respond. The problem is (as white notes) "Once you get them "in" with that mind-set, guess what? You get to keep them in the same way! For some odd reason, folks entertained into the kingdom expect the amusement park to stay open. In fact, they have the nasty propensity to ask, "What have you done for me lately?" That is, if it was a show that got them "sorta quasi-religious," well, you better be careful. Your show might become boring, and there is always a new show down the street ..."

White certainly caused me to think hard on the subject of worship with this chapter. While there were some points of preference that I think are inconsequential to the wider issues (white is obviously biased to a certain style of worship that fits his tradition), I was challenged regarding these two truths:
Entertainment cannot be the strategy of winning the lost. It hides - even makes void - the Gospel. We have to make sure that our message is accessible (are we speaking the language in a manner in which it can be understood?) and applicable (are we telling people why this matters and how they can use it), while also maintaining the authenticity of the message itself.
Entertainment cannot be allowed to replace authentic worship. When the focus is on us - what we like - what we enjoy - what we want to hear, and the focus is off of the wholly otherness of God Almighty, we are no longer worshipping God. We are worshipping ourselves.


Tomorrow: Part 2

Happy Birthday, Mark!

Today is my son Mark's birthday. He's 10. We tried to get him to open some presents this morning but he wasn't really interested. I think they are still on the kitchen table - mostly untouched. We sang to him, but I think it annoyed him more than anything. He got a card or two in the mail yesterday, but he doesn't really show much interest. And if the cards contain money, it could fall to the floor for all he cares. And he wasn't happy at all today. He spent a solid 15 minutes crying on the floor of his room before he calmed down enough to make it to school (and then only with the promise of a Rice Krispy Treat). If you are reading this wondering what kind of awful birthday this must be for him, know this: autism affects everything. To him, today is just another day - and obviously not a good one so far. But if he holds to form ("form" being what he has done the last couple of weeks) he'll be ok after getting into the routine of his day, and he'll get over whatever was bothering him this morning.

We've been in the "world" of autism for 8 1/2 years now. It's been a bumpy ride, that's for sure. Days like today remind us of every challenge along the way. Cecilia cried in Toys-R-Us yesterday while shopping for a birthday present that he would like - or even care about. She remembers him being "such a perfect baby". I still remember our first official autism diagnosis ending with the doctor telling us, "He'll never sit by a lake and read poetry". Yeah - I thought that was pretty calloused, myself. Since then, we have done all that we can to ensure Mark has every chance to do that - and more. I think the doctor was wrong. I think he will sit and read poetry by a lake (He can read, by the way). He might only do it for a few minutes and then take off all his clothes and jump into the lake, but he'll do it. We've seen Mark make great strides. He can do 3rd grade level work in math, can read and spell fairly well, and now communicates his needs and wants verbally (most of the time). Mark still has lots of challenges, though. His self-injurious behaviors have intensified over the past few months. His tantrums can be pretty intense. And he isn't sleeping as well (or as much) as he used to. We continue to work for, pray for, and expect the best. With each passing year, some things get easier and some get harder.

But today, we just want him to have a happy birthday. For the last couple of weeks, he's been working on the correct answer to "How old are you, Mark?" so that he would be ready for this day (and this year).

Lord, help him be ready. And help us.

Sumo wrestlers don't eat breakfast!

Kind of flies in the face of conventional thinking, doesn't it? I mean, I'd have guessed this guy to the left eats whole farm animals for breakfast. Twice. But apparently (and I am trusting some guy I heard on sports talk radio this morning - always a dubious source at best) sumo wrestlers know that by not eating breakfast, they slow down their metabolism so that they actually gain weight! Whouda thunk it? Not eating to gain weight! How many people do you know right now that are trying to lose weight by skipping breakfast?

Anyway ... this really isn't about breakfast. Or diets. Or sumo wrestlers.

It's about the way we perceive things versus the reality of things. It's about how we go after success or recognition or happiness or anything else without knowing the real way to discover these things. It's about living life as it seems right to us, rather than how Jesus said we ought to live. The term I'm describing here is a "paradox". That is, it's a truth that defies intuition.

Jesus was the master of the paradoxical statement:

• You gain life by losing it.
• You get by giving.
• You are honored in humility.
• You lead by serving.
• The first are last (and vice versa).
• In dying, there is life.

Although I have read and studied all these passages many times, I still find myself going with conventional wisdom in these areas instead of Jesus' directives. If I truly believe what Jesus said about gaining life, then why am often reluctant to totally trust Him with whatever he wants to do with my life? I often live as if I still know better what real life is all about that the one who gave me life. Twice.

And the idea of giving ... I still can't seem to break my own mindset that I have to use all I have on myself and my family, even to the point of withholding what God wants me to give. Hoarding just seems intuitive. I wonder how many of us miss out on the blessings of giving because it doesn't make sense to us.

And humility. Who wants to be humbled? I want to be recognized, applauded, noticed, don't you? It's just human nature. But every time I blow my own horn, I'm denying God the ability to lift me up. You know what they say: He who gets too big for his britches will inevitably be exposed in the end.

And serving. Aren't we all working hard so people can serve us? Isn't that the whole point? It's not if you want to live life Jesus' way. The very One who most deserved our total service to Him, became instead the servant of us all. When no disciple was willing to take on the apron of a servant (because it would necessarily mean being beneath someone else), Jesus served them all.

The one I thing I do get pretty well is the paradox of death to life. That's the one that's not based on what I do, but on what Jesus has done. What a beautiful, amazing, counter-intuitive truth! Here I am - the sinner. I deserve whatever I get. I'm guilty and I can't deny it. And then there's Jesus. The sinless Son of God. He deserved none of the shame and abuse and pain he faced. And he chose to die for me, so that I could live.

My human nature says that I must earn my way to God ... that I must deserve it somehow ... that I must be good enough. But the most incredible paradox in all the world is that "He saved us because of his mercy,and not because of any good things that we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit.He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning." (Titus 3:5)

"Is this what Jesus told you guys to do?"

That's the question self-avowed atheist Matt Casper asks his friend and self-proclaimed "longtime Christian" Jim Henderson after visiting and taking notes on a variety of American churches and wondering how they could all be so different in approach, yet claim a common belief system. Between the perspectives of Casper the atheist and former pastor-cum-house painter Henderson, we are able to get a glimpse of how modern American church looks to both insiders and outsiders.


Jim and Casper Go to Church (according to the inside flap of the book cover) "chronicles their journey through a wider array of churches that many Christians have in a lifetime." If you can get past the sometimes harsh criticisms of some very well-known churches and pastors (some of whom probably deserve it and some of whom probably don't) and if you can see thru the theological/experiential bias of the Christian half of the duo, you'll discover some eye-opening perspectives about how we do church today. From the theologically vague to the slickest of marketing to the outright offensive, this short book provides an interesting commentary on modern American evangelicalism.

While I can't say I agree with all that this unique duo have written, their work did get me thinking seriously about our church and church in general. And seeing how an atheist/unchurched person perceived each church got me wondering how "religious outsiders" perceive ours. Here are some thoughts I had about our own church (and church in general) that the book inspired and/or stirred up:

1. Why do we feel like we have to require people to be nice to one another and give even the most innocuous of greetings? Every Sunday we have a "welcome time" where we ask people to "greet one another". From the eyes of an atheist or church outsider, how insincere must that appear? Why can't we simply be nice to people spontaneously? Casper (the atheist) remarked at one church (after the official "greeting" time), "Well, I don't mean to throw cold water on your church thing, but frankly I thought that was lame. Why do you have to tell people to talk with each other anyway? Why didn't someone voluntarily approach me?" He equated the prompted greetings he received in churches to "Walmart Greeter friendliness ... like it's their job to be friendly to people." That got me thinking, so I decided that we're trying something different at our church this week (and slightly heretical for us): no more "greeting time". We'll stand or fall on the authentic friendliness (or lack thereof) of our people. At least then we'll be real.
2. What language are we speaking? I think we toss around Christian cliches for so long that we don't even know what we're saying anymore. We just know it sounds "godly", or that we've heard it used a lot by TV preachers. In one enormous Texas church, the people were promised (at least 15 times) that "this is the year of the manifestation of the Glory of God in your life!" (without any explanation of what that is). I don't even know what that means and I've been a pastor for 15 years and have spent 8 years post-grad in seminary! And that's just one small example. Listen next time you're in church to what we say (yes, I include me) that would make no sense outside of church (and often makes no sense in church).
3. Why aren't we calling people to action instead of just belief? I mean, why aren't we challenging people to go out and do something? I have lately been challenged and convicted by this thought about my church, my messages, and my ministry in general: Is it making any difference? Is anybody being helped? Is the community a better place because we are in it? Sometimes I honestly don't know. After one particularly exasperating experience, Casper said, "After the sermon, and the music, and the bucket, I want to hear one answer to one simple question: What do you want me to do?"
4. Are we simply entertaining people who want religious-flavored programming or are we really leading people to God in a way that is relevant and real? (Sometimes I feel like I'm doing a modern-day religious version of the Mike Douglas Show!) Casper wondered aloud about the "show" he saw in many churches ... the bands, the effects, the lighting, cameras, video, etc. Casper said of one L.A. church, "I don't understand why they need to do the big show. Why don't they just help people and call it good? Why the fog machine, camera crane, multiple screens, PowerPoint and the lights, lights, lights?" One church's service seemed to be "coming straight out of Branson", they noted.
5. Why are so many of our churches so deliberately vague with the message? Casper was insightful enough to wonder if we really believe the Bible to be true, why don't we teach it for what it says? Why are we afraid to tell the truth? At one prominent church in the Midwest, the message ended with a call to "just follow". To just follow what was not clear. Nor was how. Nor was any sense of the cost in "following". Even Casper noted that, "What does that mean - just follow? Don't you have to put something on the line? I know that when people followed Jesus in 1st century Palestine, they were risking life and limb. When people followed Martin Luther King, Jr., they were risking arrest. When they followed Gandhi, they risked bodily harm and even death. But what does just follow mean here and in this context? Christianity can't be just getting baptized or just following. You have to put something on the line I think." In contrast, at Mars Hill Church, Casper obviously disagreed with what he said, but had to respect that Mark Driscoll wasn't afraid to say what he believed. Of him, Casper said: "You may disagree with Driscoll ... but you don't have to wonder where he stands ..."
6. Context is everything! At about the midway point in their schedule of church visits, Casper made this observation about the preaching he had heard: "I often feel like the pastor makes up his mind on what he wants to say and then does a keyword search in the Bible to find whatever verse he can to support it." If context (as he noted) is so vital to understanding any literature of historical significance, how much more so is it vitally important to a correct understanding of the Bible (which we believe to be inspired by God). Disappointingly, the duo found only one church where the pastor actually preached a message from the Bible in its context. Here's how Casper said it: "If the Bible really is the Word of God, it's very, very important to not take it out of context. I mean, that's a rule that applies to most every phrase ever said, so you'd think it'd apply tenfold to the Bible!"
7. Are we preaching self-help or the all-sufficiency of Christ? Of America's most prominent (at the moment) TV preacher, Casper said, "I didn't hear anything that I haven't heard Tony Robbins say better. Nothing about helping other people, no Scripture that I can remember, and nothing really even about God." How did the message change from Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs' Christ is All in All in 1657 to a message of Discover the Champion in You today? It's no wonder Casper asked Henderson, "Are we at church, or some sorta self-help seminar?" The only hope we have to offer people will not be discovered within. It is the complete otherness of Christ that we all need. His sinlessness vs. my sinfulness. His perfect nature vs. my corrupt one. His life of sacrifice vs. my life of indulgence, etc.
8. Let's quit teaching people that giving will make them prosperous and instead teach giving as worship and sacrifice. I cringe every time I hear a message manipulating people and twisting scripture when it comes to giving. I won't go so far as to say the prosperity "gospel" doesn't work. Obviously some are prospering - it's just usually the ministers. After visiting a house church where the personal relationships were obviously closer and the financial needs of ministry were not so great (i.e. there were no bills to pay or TV time to buy), giving took on a whole new meaning to both writers. The pastor of that church said something that really resonates with me: "Giving isn't really giving until it interrupts your lifestyle." At this church, giving was a not a spiritualized investment scheme, nor a magical success formula. It was seen as an act of worship that benefits others. The rewards of giving were not the impetus for giving. They gave because it was the right thing to do.

You may not agree with all of the observations or perspectives of the authors of this book. You may not agree with mine. I recognize the book's inherent limitations: brief contacts with churches, perhaps unfounded assumptions made because of too little info, the biases of 1) A Christian with a self-described "independent Pentecostal" background, and 2) an atheist without the spiritual discernment required to understand spiritual things, etc. But at least we can agree on this: We need to start thinking about how we are doing what we are doing as a church. We need to consider how our ministry is being perceived and received by those we are trying to reach. And we need to be sure we are doing what God wants us to do how He wants us to do it. Casper's essential question is a great question that we all need to ask (and answer):

Is this what Jesus told you guys to do?

A Tribute Page to D. James Kennedy

Here is some info about Dr. D. James Kennedy as well as info on service arrangements.
http://65.240.226.104:8080/

D. James Kennedy - A Champion for Christ

The church and the world lost a spiritual giant today. Dr. D. James Kennedy, pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale and founder of Evangelism Explosion, went to be with the Lord today. (http://pewforum.org/news/rss.php?NewsID=14159)

My genuine fear is that the greatest generation of American spiritual leaders is passing away and there are few - if any - successors to their leadership. I can think of no modern preacher/pastor with the gravitas of Dr. Kennedy. He was a modern Spurgeon, standing with no compromise for biblical values, boldly and consistently proclaiming the Gospel, and living a life of unquestioned personal integrity.

From a humble beginning in his own living room with only 17 people, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church has grown to over 10,000. Most of these members were led to the Lord thru the people of the church and the ministry of Evangelism Explosion. By the end of this decade, over 50 million people will have come to Christ from that ministry alone. Today, EE is active every nation and territory in the world. It is an amazing legacy.

Dr. Kennedy was also genuine, humble, and personable. A couple of years ago, he graciously agreed to meet with me for an interview on church leadership. I showed up at the church office in Ft. Lauderdale as nervous as can be toting my little tripod and video camera. His wonderful personal assistant greeted me at his office with bad news. Dr. Kennedy had been ill and that very day was taken to the hospital with pneumonia. I was disappointed after making the drive, but more disappointed that I could not meet a man I had long admired from a distance. I assumed my opportunity was gone forever and I began to make other plans for my interview (an assignment from my doctoral program). Two weeks later, his assistant called me back and invited me to come down and watch a taping of the TV program and meet with Dr. Kennedy afterwards. He was so gracious and friendly. He toured me thru the studios and the ministry center. Most amazingly, I was able to interview him in their professional studio! I put my little camcorder aside and got to talk with Dr. Kennedy for over an hour (1/2 hour on tape and another 1/2 hour just talking). It was a great and inspirational event for me. Afterwards, his producer made several DVD copies for me and took pictures of us. It may seem like a small act, but to me it was a great moment.

Today as I watched the video again, I cried over the loss of such a great man.

For the sake of the church and the kingdom, I pray God quickly raises up more champions like Dr. Kennedy.