The Perfect Pastor

My hubby and I have been incredibly blessed and, frankly, spoiled over the years by great pastors like Adrian Rogers and Ben Mandrell.  It’s a little unnerving to be “shepherd-less”.   Although the choice is not ours to make, in the spirit of Jane and Michael Banks, we thought it would be fun to write our own advertisement for our next pastor. 

 

“If you want this choice position,

Have a cheery disposition…”

You will be devoted to the Great Commission and the Cultural Mandate.  You will teach us to make disciples and fulfill the mandate in Genesis 1- create culture and do it as God's stewards.

You will love music that glorifies God with every fiber of your being. 

You like your coffee strong.

You view the church as the body of Christ and not a business.  The most important thing isn’t for our church to  get bigger, it’s for it to grow deeper even if it gets smaller.

You will encourage us to apply the idea of stewardship to our minds and intellect.  Education is huge for you.   

You’ll teach us to question well, follow ideas through logically not emotionally warning us to not assume our visceral reactions are proof of a Holy Spirit grieving, but possibly the flesh pushing back.

You will teach us to dialogue and debate with love instead of regurgitating out bumper-sticker slogans and verses out of context or avoiding the exchange of ideas all together.

You will have a super-natural ability to see where the politically correct culture has crept in and poisoned the church; you will relentlessly expose the lies from the pits of hell for what they are.

You will teach us biblical, church and national history through sermons and programming  throughout the week.  You respect the warnings God gives us throughout Scripture when we “forget” where we’ve come from and what he expects from us in each of those areas.

You will call us to dig aggressively into Scripture for its wisdom to address poverty, immigration, justice and the oppression here and abroad of our brethren and give these important issues the attention they deserve from the pulpit.

There is no IRS audit or threat of 501c3 status you fear above being obedient to preaching the whole counsel of God’s word.  You boldly stand firm to not render under Caesar that which is God’s.  You have a Black Robe Regiment heart.

You like to play with kids on the playground.

You do not take yourself so seriously. You rather make a mistake with a heart to be obedient than be paralyzed by the fear of failing.

You laugh hard and often.

You break bread with the little people. 

You have the sincerity and passion of David for prayer and the Presence of God. 

Because you will love us and you love God more, you will absolutely call us out.  You will not snuff out the Spirit when it is calling you to get all “Jonathon Edwards” on us. 

You will teach us that if we resign to sitting back comfy in our salvation while the world burns instead of engaging others to the point of sacrifice we have cheapened the grace we’ve been given.

“Hurry, Pastor!

Many Thanks…,

Sincerely…, “

Rachel & Martin Cleveland

A Foundation of Sand - The SBC's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission's Support for Paige Patterson and EIT

Yesterday, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention posted an article describing an event sponsored by, in part, the Evangelical Immigration Table (EIT) entitled "Paige Patterson calls for immigration reform, care for the immigrants among us".  To say it was disturbing is an understatement. What I found was weak support for what is a critical issue.

In the article, Dr. Patterson, President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, says, “What guarantees justice for one person often tends to take it away from another.”  That, by definition, is not "justice" but rather "advantage".  This is a very dangerous and  un-biblical view of justice; it is not a zero-sum game. Follow this line of reasoning and one would come to the blasphemous conclusion that our Just God is such "often at the expense of others". 

 Another speaker at the event, Tim C. Moore, pastor and EIT mobilizer, also uses a weak argument for the  immigration policies supported by EIT saying of the Holy Family's move to Egypt,  “I don’t find where Joseph and Mary stopped to get a visa.”  He probably got some chuckles and some ignorant nods of agreement, but this is an irresponsible comparison to make.  The move that Joseph and Mary made was under Roman jurisdiction and more accurately described as a move between states, not countries.  

Dr. Patterson states,  “In all the history of the church, when the church has become militant and taken up weapons, they have left a sad mark on the church of the living God."   I wonder if those who were under persecution and oppression yet freed by Christians taking up arms would agree with her.  War should always be the last resort, as all human life is sacred.  But one need not look far to see that God calls his people to lift up arms in defense of those who are being brutalized and cannot defend themselves.  The same compassion that leads us to care for the immigrant should lead us to lay down our lives in defense of our friends and brothers. I don't consider this a "sad mark".  I'm proud of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and have done so with the love of Christ.

It appears to me that, once again, those in leadership positions have backed an emotional response with a cursory use of Scripture. I can understand that from lay people who are busy with work and family lives outside of professional ministry. I cannot understand it from those who hold positions responsible for the proper exegesis of Scripture and the dissemination of it to members of denominations.  

To know what God says about the role of borders, governments, immigration, individuals, development of a military and its proper use, one must do more than have a passion and a word-search. We cannot afford to be lazy here nor will we be relieved of the responsibility to know God's will.  Hebrews 5:14 reminds me that it is up to us to train ourselves to distinguish good from evil. We will make a mistake if we blindly follow those in positions higher than ourselves. 

Christian, it is up to you to seek God's will and then follow it.

If there are any of my Southern Baptist friends reading this, please consider comparing  Evangelicals For Biblical Immigration to the EIT.  (As a side note:  Eric Metaxas initially signed on with the EIT. However, after further review of the facts, withdrew his name and has been a supporter of EBI ever since.) 

  

Compassion and emotions are dangerous things and need to be checked and harnessed by a solid understanding of God's word and intent.  I think it's time for each of us and the SBC to take a step back and reevaluate.  

Before it's too late.

Previous blog on immigration: W.W.N.D. Nehemiah and Immigration Reform

Testimony of a modern legal immigrant: My Brother's Story of Becoming an American

 

“What guarantees justice for one person often tends to take it away from another.” The key will not be “social legislation,” but rather the “intervention of God.” - See more at: http://erlc.com/article/stop-playing-for-political-favor-on-immigration#sthash.ICNACr4D.dpuf

“What guarantees justice for one person often tends to take it away from another.” The key will not be “social legislation,” but rather the “intervention of God.” - See more at: http://erlc.com/article/stop-playing-for-political-favor-on-immigration#sthash.ICNACr4D.dpuf

“What guarantees justice for one person often tends to take it away from another.” The key will not be “social legislation,” but rather the “intervention of God.” - See more at: http://erlc.com/article/stop-playing-for-political-favor-on-immigration#sthash.ICNACr4D.dpuf

“What guarantees justice for one person often tends to take it away from another.” The key will not be “social legislation,” but rather the “intervention of God.” - See more at: http://erlc.com/article/stop-playing-for-political-favor-on-immigration#sthash.ICNACr4D.dpuf

Moore enumerated some of the evangelical organizations, including Southern Baptists, World Vision and Bread of Life—groups representing 68 million Christians—whose leadership is aligned with EIT principles. - See more at: http://erlc.com/article/stop-playing-for-political-favor-on-immigration#sthash.ICNACr4D.dpuf

While Patterson’s sermon capped the evening, the service began with remarks from Galvan and Tim C. Moore, Texas mobilizer for EIT and pastor of Walk Worthy Baptist Church in Austin.
Recounting the movement of Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus from Bethlehem to Egypt, Moore noted, “I don’t find where Joseph and Mary stopped to get a visa.”
- See more at: http://erlc.com/article/stop-playing-for-political-favor-on-immigration#sthash.ICNACr4D.dpuf

Naaman, Obedience & the Insanity of the American Church

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." Jesus - (Matthew 5:13 NIV)

"If the meat is rotten, it's the salt's fault." - Glenn Sunshine

Let the smell of our rancid culture fill your nostrils as you meditate on those words for a moment.  

The modern American church is not operating with the same influence she has in the past.  Why not?  At least two reasons pound in my head, but I'll focus on just one for now.

We aren't obedient to God.

Is God still the same he was yesterday, today and will be tomorrow? If so, then he still requires obedience.  God's expectation of obedience and warnings against the contrary saturate Scripture.  From "you will surely die" in the garden, to Deuteronomy's "observe the commands" and "keep his ways", to the reminder in Hebrews of those who "did not go in [to the Promised land] because of disobedience" with a plea to "make every effort...so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience" in Hebrews, Scripture cries out to us that obedience is critical.    

Just in case you think I'm calling us to legalism, I'm not.  Here's how I understand it:  Salvation is free in the sense that we could never afford it or earn it.  However, if we receive it (humbly and gratefully) it will be demonstrated by our desire to be obedient even though we will, being fallen creatures, fail at times.  Daily we are to pick up our cross, share His yoke, carry a (comparably) light burden,  and make every effort to enter his rest, dying daily to the flesh.  All of this done through the power of the Spirit living in us, not in our own power.  Easier said than done-yes!  Worth striving for-absolutely!  

When God's people remember his ways and walk humbly in them, they and the cultures they live in have been transformed and blessed. It's his promise and it's a fact. I beg you to consider our role and our responsibility.  

Enter the insanity. 

We see the problems, pray about the problems, form committees and write all kinds of books about the problems.  We go to conferences, look at graphs and charts about the problems.  We pray for the Second Coming (and it can't come fast enough!) and we hide from the problems.  We want to solve the problem every way except the way God instructs.  And we continue to do these same things expecting a different result. 

GOD HELP ME, WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO CALL US TO OBEDIENCE? 

Occasionally, and in different forums, I'll hear about this miraculous time in history called "The Great Awakening".  It's spoken about with such nostalgia and romance. So, why aren't preachers lining up to deliver the sermon credited with the final push that birthed that baby? Perhaps "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" doesn't seem loving.  And we are all about loving (as defined by our culture, not Scripture).  Given that the result was a Great Awakening, shouldn't we at least consider a re-run? 

Based on the Word of God and the history that has proven it, I believe the Holy Spirit won't move that way again until / unless we are called to and respond appropriately with obedience.  I've been hearing of small pockets of believers praying the words of Isaiah,“Woe to me!...I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips...” (Isaiah 6:5 NIV) and I share their cries.

Naaman was willing to do some things for a healing, but not the one thing required of him until finally his suffering out-weighed his pride and he obeyed.  How much suffering will it take before we will humble ourselves to the point of obedience?

Healing beyond our imagination awaits us if we are willing.

Biblical references from "YouVersion" Bible App, NIV