Church Soap Operas

I've really enjoyed blogging from time to time and hearing feedback occasionally on issues related to Baptists and the church is general. This medium of communication has really opened Baptists up to a whole new world of dialogue. The potential benefit in engaging in constructive discussion, disagreement, and debate really is unlimited. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened with the SBC "controversy" had this kind of format been available to get information out to one another.

While that is a moot issue, it remains to be seen how churches will be affected by members who choose the internet to air their grievances against staff and pastors. It appears Tennessee has a corner on the market regarding this matter. Three prominent congregations. Bellevue Baptist, Two Rivers Baptist, and Germantown Baptist are going through turmoil and have had church members putting their gripes on the internet. I won't put links for these websites, but these are readily available for anyone to check out the latest episodes.

One website in particular related to Bellevue Baptist Church caught my attention the other day. Apparently there are those within the fellowship who are at odds with the pastor, Dr. Steve Gaines. This man has the unenviable task of following Dr. Adrian Rogers, a titan in Southern Baptist life for sure. I don't know all the details nor do I care to find out. Commenting on the particulars of that situation is not my purpose. While checking out a series of Baptist blogs, I noticed this one and saw what appeared to be a transcript of a conversation between the pastor and deacons. I guess someone recorded the exchange in order to make this possible.

Bellevue is like the White House to many Southern Baptists, so just about anything that comes out of Cordova makes the news. I don't know any of the people involved, but express sadness that any church would have to go through this kind of dissension. Not only that, but there would be those who would have to resort to creating a website to air their dirty laundry. The names have not been changed to protect the innocent, or guilty as the case may be. There must be a different dynamic church polity wise when dealing with a megachurch, but Baptists should be able to find a way within the context of the local church to deal with their problems.

In Acts 4, it appears that the early church was devoted to, among other things, the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship. The fellowship and health of the church is so precious, and can be fragmented in more ways that I can mention. Attacking staff and other members is only one way for this to be accomplished. There are times when church leaders need to be confronted, but it should not be done on the internet for the whole world to see. Maybe some kind of password or code could be installed on the blogs to ensure that persons get this information on a "need to know" basis.

I won't be visiting that site again, and that of course is the simple solution to this problem. However I am curious how others feel about expressing frustrations about their church on a website. It's impossible to please everyone in the church, and at least in a Baptist congregation there is a congregational form of government. This should mean that the majority opinion, while not always the correct one, carries the day. If there is one positive aspect to seeing these disgruntled blogs, it is recognizing the challenges I face aren't nearly as sizable as they could be. I become more grateful to be where I am and remind myself once again that being the biggest church in the neighborhood isn't all it's cracked up to be.

What's Good About the Good Book

Last Sunday proved particularly satisfying for me, in that I got an opportunity to preach to about 300 college students. They were members of the Missouri State University band, and they are so good that they will be marching in the Rose Bowl parade in Pasadena on New Year's Day. I preached a message about the importance of hanging on to the Bible, even though other books may come and go. It is the book for life.


Having been raised as a (Southern) Baptist, I know the importance of the Bible. Attending seminary reinforced this notion for the most part and I began to learn more about how the Bible was written over a period of time. There are a variety of theories relating to inspiration and inerrancy. With particular attention to the latter, I came to realize that Baptists could get into bitter arguments over this subject. It is a tiresome discussion.

I've come to realize that there can be a disconnect between talking about the Bible and actually living out the Bible. It's puzzling to me that so many Christians can claim the authority of the Bible without allowing it to have any authority over their own lives. The message and story of the Bible gets lost among a series of propositional statements defending its credibility. There are a lot of well-intentioned folks who claim things for the Good Book that it doesn't claim for itself. This is done in an effort to defend the Bible from those who would question its authority. I suppose there is a place for this, but what I'd really like to see is more Baptists actually living out the Bible (especially the words written in red).

It's a sad day when fellowship among Baptists turns on how they define the Word of God. The key issue in my mind has been interpretation rather than inerrancy or inspiration. It's a great challenge to maintain unity in the church when conformity to a singular viewpoint is a requirement--at least among thinking congregations. The one area that Baptists have been unified on is missions. If Baptists can keep that as our focus, then we might actually make an impact in our world.

The Apostle Paul told Timothy that the Scriptures would make him "wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ" (2 Tim 3:14-16). We worship a risen savior and have an inspired, reliable text to show us the way. The Holy Spirit is our ultimate teacher, and I never cease to be amazed at learning something new. The Word of God is truly "unsearchable riches" and serious students of the Bible realize they will never get a handle on it.

And that's a good thing. We're better off when the Bible gets a handle on us. May we strive to preach it, live it, and rejoice in the Good News.

Putting Women in their Place

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has announced a curriculum targeted at women that will teach them sewing and cooking and begin this Fall. It will be a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and feature a 23-hour concentration in homemaking. The main focus of the instruction will actually be "cooking and sewing" and extending hospitality in the home. While the seminary president Paige Patterson believes he is going against the tide of modernity on this issue, there are also those among Southern Baptists who think this idea is a waste of money and resources. It is interesting to get differences of opinion on this one.

It's hard to imagine that an accredited theological school that offers coursework in theology, greek, hebrew, ethics, and doctoral seminars to boot would have students learning about cooking and cleaning. Of course, I need to mention that only women are allowed to take these classes. I'll say this much, at least the president is consistant is his views on the subordination of women and doesn't mind utilizing the school to emphasize this point. What I find even more difficult to fathom is that one of the world's largest centers of theological education would find it necessary to offer academic credit for who can cook the best meals.

There is a place and value in learning these aspects of homelife, but don't offer academic credit at a seminary for it. I can't believe I'm having to say that, but this really depicts the direction of the SBC in regard to the role and place of women if nothing else does. The seminary and many others sympathetic with this approach claim the courses affirm the biblical roles of men and women. Women are to be at home, hospitable, and "graciously submit" to their husbands according to the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message. This reminds of what another prominet Southern Baptist leader said about young couples in the denomination having more babies to keep up with the Mormons.

In a day when both men and women need education and encouragement to use their gifts and calling, there should be maximum usage of time and resources to teach the Bible and theology to seminary students. Yes, cooking is important but putting in a seminary curriculum is demeaning to the role of women and relegating them to a particular function and task in the marriage relationship. I wonder how other women at the seminary feel about this development, knowing how the seminary really feels about their ministry goals. By the way, I know a few men who can cook, and really enjoy it. I wonder if they could audit some of these courses for extra credit.

Many women are working hard toward their God-given ministries through theological education. I am grateful for seminaries who offer legitimate theological courses to all persons regardless of gender, and let the churches determine who comes to serve on their ministerial staffs. Women who pay the price for their academic accomplishments should be commended, and seeing an Mrs. degree at a seminary is a waste of resources. Not every woman is called to vocational ministry, and there are many who find their ministry in the context of the home. This is wonderful, but there shouldn't be academic credit given toward a seminary degree for it.

I am privileged to serve with several women on our staff and others on the deacon board who take their ministries seriously. They are effective in their work and are building the Kingdom of God every day. Their place is alongside men who are doing the same things to the glory of God. So, when I see something like this occur I rub my eyes and wonder whether I'm seeing this correctly. The redeeming thing in all this at least is that Southwestern, as a flagship SBC seminary, paints a clear picture about how the denomination views women and how they should be devoting their time and energies. This offers a contrast to other Baptist schools who recognize the seriousness of theological education and offer challenging coursework to women and men in order for them to achieve their goals of vocational service.

Sweet Home Alabama

It has been an extremely hectic but productive two months in Springfield. Each day feels more and more like home, and this quite a development for someone who had never even visited the Show Me State prior to a few months ago. I'm grateful for the change of scenery and the opportunity to be a part of what the Lord is doing is Missouri.

I'm very excited that our church has extended a call to Cory Goode as Associate Pastor. He will be working with our youth and college primarily, and the entire congregation as well with pastoral duties. It will be good to resume our working relationship and bring our families together again. I believe this marks a new day for our church and hopefully the remaining pieces of the ministry puzzle are coming into view.

This is a good time to pull out of town for a while. We've had our vacation week planned and didn't know it would coincide with such a great event today, but so much the better. My family and I are headed down to her folks house to get them reacquainted with grandchildren. It should be a good week, although this time the trip will be somewhat longer coming and going. We'll be getting this trip in before school starts and the fall routine kicks in.

Here's an interesting question that Corrie Ten Boom once asked: "Is prayer your steering wheel or spare tire?" As I slip behind the wheel of our van, this thought will be on my mind. Looking forward to going, and also the returning.

Onward Christian Soldiers

We finished Vacation Bible School not too long ago a little weary and worn but grateful for the opportunity to work with our children. I'm grateful our family got to Springfield in time to participate in this great week, and Lori and I enjoyed meeting our precious kids up close and personal. The theme "Avalanche Ranch" served as the backdrop for our week, and each day had a central lesson from God's word. I'd have to say my favorite day was Thursday, in that I got to dress up and tell the resurrection story. Children are very perceptive, and some appeared more interested in the paper fire I had going with the red light than the story itself. But, I've been told children learn more than you realize, so I'm counting on that.


I realize it's only been a few months, but already I've come to appreciate the missional spirit that is alive and well in University Heights Baptist Church. Many may not kn0w what that term means, but in reality have a good handle on its application. Part of this awareness stems from a desire to do whatever it takes to make an impression for the Lord, and this was seen very clearly during VBS. It's not easy getting workers for VBS, there are schedules to adjust and quite frankly many folks don't have the patience or disposition required to work with children. So, when you find a team like we had for VBS 2007, you like to recognize them.


It would be impossible to mention what each person did each day, and many wore several hats along the way. These folks were involved in acting out sketches, serving as crew and station leaders, helping with registration, and providing snacks and childcare. I owe these folks a debt of gratitude:


Joby Windmiller
Jennifer Rice
Jerry Clopton
John Bowdidge
Margaret Butler
Garrison Main
Billie Lang
Tania Gray
Lois McCullars
John McCullars
Donna Sherrill
Darla O'Brien
Joe Brown
Nancy Brown
Barbara Granbois
Bobbie Moyer
Marilyn Williams
Pat Wolf
Bill Blase
Ruth Ann Blase
Ted Brown
Norma Jones
Mel Clopton
Phil Jones
Sharon Miller
Betty Miller
Flo Graham
Vickie Curless
Lori Chisholm


I'm grateful to these Christian soldiers for their faithfulness and love for our children. Their unselfishness in giving of themselves and their time is greatly appreciated. There is no greater investment in our time than to inspire and influence children. This is the highest form of Christian work, and makes an eternal difference. I'm grateful for the baptism that has come out of this week, and anticipate more in the days and months ahead.


For a father of three children, I am especially appreciative of godly influences in the church family. It's a humbling thing to be part of what the Lord is doing in the world, and my prayer is that our family of faith would never loose the wonder of seeing a young person coming to faith in Jesus Christ. There is so much ministry yet to do, and we get to (not have to) make an impact for Christ. Blessings to all who helped make VBS 2007 so memorable.

The Influential Church

Associated Baptist Press reported a story done by The Church Report in which the magazine ranked the top 50 most influential churches in the United States (7/18/07). Not surprisingly, Saddleback Community Church received mention. Rick Warren's congregation in California benefits from a prominent pastor, but it is worth remembering that Warren literally built that church from scratch. Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois also gained attention, and their pastor Bill Hybels has done pretty much the same kind of job building that church as Warren has on the West coast. The Potter's House and Lakewood Church were recognized at the top of this list too. You can see T.J. Jakes and Joel Osteen on television just about anytime.

The primary criterion for the ranking related to the church's "passion and sense of mission mandated in the New Testament." The churches that made the list also tended to be younger churches by comparison to the older, established congregations that find it more difficult to adapt and learn new ways to reach their communities. The "emergent church" movement found expression in this poll as well, as I recall Mars Hill Church with its pastor Rob Bell. Even I found time to read his book Velvet Elvis, which provides a voice for a younger generation in the church.

One thing I found particularly interesting is that most (if not all) of these influential churches are of the mega-size variety, which means they run several thousand in worship each week. Now please understand, I appreciate greatly these large churches and admire the way the reach the masses. They are able to offer a wide variety of programs and opportunities to connect with people in creative and meaningful ways. Typically, churches of this category have pastors who offer seminars and write books on how to "get it done" like they have seen it happen in their own churches. So, there is merit to at least observing these congregations and their methods of outreach and new member assimilation.

Upon reading this article, I began to wonder whether there were any "influential" churches running under 500 in worship, or for those single staff church pastors out there, under 100 in Sunday School (been there, done that). Come to think of it, I don't hear a whole lot of recognition being handed out to those congregations running 100 or less in Sunday School who exist in rural areas with little or no numerical growth. I haven't seen any downtown churches who are struggling with changing neighborhoods on an honorable mention list anywhere either. My point is that there are pastors and leaders of churches in much smaller congregations who are just as passionate about reaching people for Christ and have that sense of mission as described in the New Testament. It concerns me that for the most part, churches of the smaller variety aren't viewed as having the same importance as those with bigger buildings, budgets, and enrollment.

Several years ago I recall reading an article about "the search for the significant church" and it came out of the MS Baptist paper. I was serving as a pastor of a church in MS at the time and remember how much I appreciated that article. For the most part, MS is a state with many smaller churches that run under 100 in worship. The basic thrust of the article dealt with the fact that you can't determine the importance of a church based solely on its size. Each church serves a unique community, with different needs, populations, and demographics. Churches that are preaching the gospel, loving their neighbor, and telling people about Jesus are significant churches. I'm amazed that I still recall that article, written almost 10 years ago.

I've spoken to a number of people who aren't comfortable in a large church, while there are those who enjoy the crowds and being able to slip in and slip out of worship without being asked to do anything. Smaller churches allow its members to relate more frequently with each other and share life together in ways that these mega-churches can't. These congregations, however you define them by size, have their own ministries and mission in expanding the Kingdom of God. Most of these will never find themselves on a list of the top 100 most influential churches in America. But, they will find themselves involved in a much more important function, and that is ministering to people in their community in ways that no other church could.

University Heights didn't break into the top 100 on this latest poll, and that's okay. I don't really aspire to that kind of earthly recognition anyway. We don't want to dismiss the important of church growth, but at the same don't want to be consumed by it in such a way that we'll do almost anything to get a crowd. I don't plan on shaving my head to get 300 in Sunday School, which in my case wouldn't be that big of a sacrifice anyway. I do hope that we are being effective in encouraging the spiritual formation of our people and welcoming new believers and other newcomers into the family of faith. I don't want to dismiss the importance of reaching out or the excitement of welcoming new members into the church. This is significant. The critical point has to be ministering to our immediate community because this is where the Lord has planted us.

It's so amazing to witness how a local congregation functions. Other times it can be difficult, but regardless of what happens the work of the church goes on. Children need to be taught the Bible and encouraged to come to faith in Jesus Christ. Prayers need to be offered for the sick and discouraged. There are songs still to be song and sermons yet to be preached. We worship, fellowship, evangelize, disciple others, and minister in the name of Jesus just like churches with enrollments ten times as big as ours.

This isn't a jealousy thing or an excuse not to do our best to bring folks into church. One thing I constantly remind myself is that God provides the growth. Our task is to remove barriers to spiritual and numerical growth and bloom where we are planted. I aim to see our church family focused on our immediate community while serving as a home for free and faithful Baptists. It's an exciting process, and I suspect there are a lot of other churches with similar situations out there with the same kind of spiritual DNA. May our tribe increase. I would like to think that our church is influential, not necessarily due to our numerical size, but because of members who are serious about letting others see Jesus in them. When this occurs, good things are bound to happen.

For the Bible tells me so

It's time for red Kool-Aid, snacks, and playing kickball in the parking lot. No, it's not a deacons' meeting. We're in the middle of Vacation Bible School with this year's theme "Avalanche Ranch." This is one of my favorite time of the year, and I always enjoy seeing the churchhouse filled with decorations and church members wearing cowboy costumes and shouting "yeehah!" every time they hear the phrase "God is with us!"

Vacation Bible School keeps me grounded.

I'm very glad we are able to enjoy VBS at University Heights this year, as many churches opt to schedule the event early in the summer to catch workers before they leave town. It's a reasoned approach, but I for one am grateful that my kids are meeting other children their age around the Bible, crafts, and missions. I am thankful, too, that this week comes after the CBF General Assembly and American Baptist Convention Centennial celebration. While enjoying my time in Washington D.C. , I was looking forward to returning to Springfield. After all, the local church really is the headquarters for mission. VBS reminds me of what the church should be about, primarily as it pertains to sharing the gospel with all people and especially children.

VBS is the church's best tool in reaching children for Christ. More children make professions of faith during this time and baptisms occur frequently as a result of a church's commitment to making this week special. I am overwhelmed at the way our church has turned out in support of this effort, and it really is a time when the entire staff pools our time and energies to minister to children. It really is true, that a person stands the tallest when he stoops to help a child.

Children, by and large, don't have a clue about denominational problems, or denominations for that matter. Good for them. They are excellent receivers, though, and Jesus said we need to model the way they do this in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Whenever I am discouraged by the current state of affairs in Baptist life, I look to the children. They are not only the future of the church, they ARE the church just like the rest of those who believe in Christ. VBS brings that into focus for me, and the wonder of a child coming to faith in Christ by simple faith never gets too familiar. There is that wonder, awe, and excitement of welcoming someone into the family of God.

So, this week I'm singing and listening to the voices of our children. They are learning about eternal matters, even if they don't realize it. With all the church's problems and shortcomings, it's good to stop and notice when something positive is going on. We're not a perfect church for sure, I can look in the mirror and be reminded of that. But, it's encouraging to find at least one thing that we're doing right. Telling a child about Jesus is the ultimate expression of our ministry and mission.

Those denominational and church problems, while significant in their place, pale in comparison to this moment. It's easy to get overwhelmed in a tidal wave of meetings, budgets, hospital visits, and counseling sessions. The simplicity of our work comes through during VBS, and I am reminded once again that at it's very core our mission is still telling people about Jesus. Whenever feeling overwhelmed with the "burden of ministry," I can look to the children and remember why I ever got into this business in the first place. VBS helps keep me centered on Jesus, and for this I am grateful.

Unpacking the CBF General Assembly

The CBF General Assembly proved to be another good opportunity to rub shoulders with like minded Baptists. It was good to re-connect with friends from TN and make new ones from MO. The MO-CBF state meeting helped me feel a kinship with the fellowship brethern in the show-me state, especially since I am finding out that our church truly is an outpost of traditional Baptist values. There aren't any other CBF or ABC churches in Springfield or in the surrounding area for that matter, and for that reason our church serves an important role for Baptists in south MO. It's good to be part of a larger Baptist family. Here are a few observations about the meeting:


1. The CBF is changing it's mission focus from sending individuals to "sending churches." This emphasis came across loud and clear in Rob Nash's address. He indicated the inspiration for the shift came from an Iman who converted to Christianity. The man said that rather than sending individual missionaries to help out, he said to "send us your churches." Nash seemed passionate about helping local congregations connect with other churches for missions and ministry across the globe.


I'm not sure how I feel about this idea. I've never heard about an organization sending "churches" to do missions. I've grown up attending commissioning services and hearing sermons about being "called to missions." Despite the emphasis on making all kinds of Christian service equal, in my opinion, there is a special place for those who give up everything to go to remote parts of the world in full-time missionary service. Some of the most moving worship services I've attended through the years have been commissioning services. The CBF had one such service during the Assembly, and it was encouraging to see those who were going out to represent us. Still, I noticed few "full-time" vocational missionaries going out and more "affliliates" who are responsible for raising their own funds. I am grateful for folks like this but wonder what this does to our missionary force.


The new paradigm shift to "sending churches" might be a concession to a movement already underway. More and more churches are sending out their own missionaries and going on their own mission trips. As as result, they reserve the needed funds to accomplish this task. The downside is that fewer missions dollars make it to the CBF office to support missionaries. I can't help lamenting the dwindling number of "full-time" missionaries whom we can afford to support. The CBF Global Missions Offering has yet to be met in recent years, so the shift is understandable from a financial standpoint. On the other hand, I miss that cooperative effort in sponsoring missionaries so that they don't have to raise their own support. Missionaries are going out with the CBF label but without monetary support. This is a disappointing reality.

2. The ABC and CBF are building a partnership to expand their reaches in the missions area. It's difficult to determine whether the combined worship service Friday pm will have any ongoing impact, but I suspect it gave us a taste of what the Celebration of the New Baptist Covenant will be like in Atlanta in January 2008. Several missionaries who were commissioned went out with both CBF and ABC endorsements, so I remain curious about what this means. It makes sense to cooperate where we can and get over this "yours and mine" mentality and promote what can be "ours" on the missions front.

I'm also interested in what the ABC-USA is doing and in what capacity is it similar/dissimilar to the CBF. The ABC is having its own financial difficulties and are restructuring to become more efficient with their resources. The ABC appears to be more racially and ethically diverse in their membership, and is more vocal in addressing social and political matters. Not so much in endorsing political candidates, but rather speaking out in prophetic ways in the areas of mercy and justice. My first impression of the ABC was a good one, but I'm sure this organization has its challenges as well. Their emphasis on local church autonomy and traditional Baptist distinctives are a welcome sight, and I look forward to learning how they conduct their mission and ministry.

3. The door to denominationalism may be closing. The SBC only brought in 8,000 plus messengers this year, and that was "deep in the heart of Texas." I can recall when there were 40,000 in Houston during the height of the SBC battle. The CBF meeting this time brought in less than 3,000, albeit in an area not usually known for its strong CBF population. Atlanta or Birmingham seem to fare better. The ABC gathering pulled in around 2,500 delegates, and I'm not sure what they normally expect.

I can see how it would be easy to loose interest in the annual meetings, especially since folks have become a whole lot busier. Plus the fact that it's more difficult to set aside a few days for a Baptist meeting. One idea might be to look into ways to plug into our technology and provide satellite feeds into different parts of the country. This might involve more people in the process without requiring them to travel so far. Large corporations are doing this, and are much more cost effective as a result. It takes a lot of money to pull off annual meetings, and I can now understand why the ABC meets every two years. If the financial situation of the CBF doesn't improve, the every other year format might come into play.

4. This century may truly be what Rob Nash called "the age of the local church." There was a time when denominational matters really took center stage among churchgoers. Nowadays the emphasis is more on what is happening closer to home, and this isn't a bad thing necessarily. It's tiring to fight about who believes the Bible more. I am excited about members getting interested and involved in giving and going on missions. We need to get out of the mentality that we pay missionaries to do this for us. The local church is the headquarters for the Lord's work, and as such we are ALL missionaries. The world is coming to us, with its racial, social, ethnic, and theological differences. The church needs to deal with these challenges and treat them as opportunities to expand the Kingdom of God.

The missional concept comes into play at this point. I'm still learning about what this means from on a practical level, but it relates to being the body of Christ in our own town first and foremost and helping people grow in their relationship with God. Every member ought to be involved in doing at least one thing to serve in the church. This relates to our giftedness, and I'm looking forward to experiencing how this is carried out at University Heights.

CBF and ABC in Washington D.C.

We've more or less gotten into our new house and church, but it remains to be seen whether we are "settled" in. It's hard to believe that the Chisholms have been in Springfield a month, and yes I know it has been "only" a month but that is still an accomplishment considering the journey we have been on. Slowly but surely we are getting adjusted to new people, places, streets, and surroundings. It has been a good adventure thus far.

I'm looking forward to another journey of sorts this week as the CBF General Assembly is held in Washington D.C. I'll be flying out of here mid-week and returning sometime Sunday, so hopefully this will be enough time to get a taste of what is going on in Baptist life of a more traditional bent. It will be nice not having to debate and pass resolutions that aren't even binding on local churchs anyway. Here are a few modest expectations I have for the event:

1. I expect to get reaquainted with some of my friends from around the CBF landscape. It's one thing to keep in touch throughout the year, but there is something special about seeing folks in person and hearing what has gone on in their lives the previous year. In particular, I look forward to touching base with Dr. Joe Trull, Editor of Christian Ethics Today. He went through quite a scare with the health recently and I'm glad he's back in the lineup. I might catch up with some TN and MS people along the way too. I'll try to track down Ircel Harrison and Buddy Shurden along the way too. I'm always surprised to find someone I've met before in attendance at the Assembly.

2. I expect to make new friends as well, especially since I am new to Missouri and will be attending their state meeting at some point along the way. It's important to me to know who our state CBF reps are and how I can lead our church to be supportive on their ministries. I'm always looking for ways to network with like-minded Baptists.

3. I expect to hear good speakers and good messages from the Word of God and focused on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. CBF folks are missions-minded, and a high point of the gathering will be hearing from our new Global Missions Coordinator, Rob Nash, about his vision for reaching people for Christ and how the local church can be part of that (UHBC hosts a reception for Rob this October on his tour through MO). The breakout sessions offer enough variety so that almost anyone can find a subject to peak his/her interest. I do regret not being able to attend the pre-assembly meeting sponsored by Christian Ethics Today about being prophetic without being political. That information should be especially helpful, but time wise I can't work it in.

4. I expect a good introduction to the work of the American Baptist Convention. One unique feature of UHBC is that we are dually aligned: ABC/CBF. The former isn't an organization I know much about, primarily because there aren't that many ABC churches (if any) in LA, MS, or TN. I have checked out their website and confessional statements and already feel a kinship with them, especially their high regard for local church autonomy. The big draw for the ABC this year is their Centennial anniversary, and I'll be around that Saturday to enjoy that experience. The CBF and ABC will share a worship experience one evening, and that definitely looks to be a highlight.

5. I expect to hear less about what is happening in the SBC and more about what is going on with the mission and ministry of the CBF. The farther away from 1990 we get, the better off we will be as far as turning our attention forward to new ways of partnership and service. It's getting better each year, I think, as those who are supporting the Fellowship (not "joining") do so out of an appreciation for its emphasis on Baptist distinctives rather than a reaction to fundamentalism. There will always be this dynamic, but I hope the Fellowship can be more than a home for disgruntled Baptists. I have to remind myself that the younger guard of Baptists do not know about "the Controversy" except through their reading. They haven't lived through it, so the infusion of younger Baptists and energy is a good thing.

6. I expect to have a greater appreciation for being a Baptist. The freedoms we enjoy in our way of doing church are truly precious, and rubbing shoulders with other traditional Baptists will be a blessing. Being a follower of Jesus Christ is far more important than being a Baptist, and I will always identify first and foremost with the former before the latter. CBF people (and ABC I expect) have this mindset, and any effort to focus on what we have in common more than what we don't is welcome. Our uniqueness as Baptists can be celebrated without quenching the ecumenical spirit that unites all of us as believers in Jesus Christ.

That's not an exhaustive list, but it is a good start. I hope to find that my expectations will be met in a few days. There are a lot of things taking place in Baptistland these days, and these are not always positive and honor the God we are called to serve. The CBF and ABC are not perfect organizations by far, but I believe they are closer to what Baptists have historically been and stood for through the years. I'll find out whether this viewpoint is validated in a few days.

Changes in Baptist Latitudes

One of my preacher friends finally caught up with me after our move and mentioned a Jimmy Buffett lyric about a "change in latitude and a change in attitude." That's how I feel about moving to the show me state, even though I am still very much in a learning curve about our church, town, and state. I am excited about what the Lord has in store for our church in the days ahead. Part of the education process has been finding out that Missouri Baptist life is a bit more interesting than what's happening in the Volunteer state. I can see how it would be easy to be consumed by it.

I've been very grateful not to be required to keep up with the events of the Southern Baptist Convention. In fact, I didn't even know the Convention was meeting this month until I stumbled upon it in Marty Duren's blog called "SBC Outpost." Duren has gained quite a readership with his opinions and analysis of the factions now existing in the denomination. It was interesting to find out that after an extended period of time that he is putting down the laptop for good--at least when it comes to SBC news. I appreciated his candor is stating that denominational politics is akin to "trench warfare" and not for the faint of heart. It is easy to allow the topic to dominate one's conversation and thinking. Sorting through his remarks brought back some feelings of frustration when the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message was approved. That moment was an epiphany for me, and I have been able to move beyond SBC politics. I have discovered, however, that there is more than one style of Baptist politics.

Recently I discovered that the Missouri Baptist Convention fired its BSU Directors. It appears the MBC is restructuring its student ministry. This is a shocking development and one that I hope does not compromise our ability to reach the college campus. Regardless, this development has ushered me into a world of Baptist politics that I'd sooner do without. Our church was one of 18 that the MBC booted out last year. Still, it is interesting and sometimes entertaining to watch the implosion of the convention from a safe distance. Both the national and state SBC organizations are caught up in narrowing parameters for participation and partnerships. Even among fundamentalists, there has to be an enemy and I'm amazed that there is still something for Southern Baptists to fight about.

The SBC doesn't have a corner on preacher fights, and Baptists of all stripes have done a pretty good job of starting churches by having existing ones split. Baptists are a schismatic people, and have a rugged individualism that leads to a dogged determination to hang on to one's personal beliefs and not have an outside authority enforce orthodoxy or conformity. Cooperation, not uniformity, is the operative word and one that I hope is demonstrated in Washington D.C. in a few weeks when the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and American Baptist Convention come to town. It has been encouraging to see that each year there seems to be less and less concern for what the SBC has done and more in regard to new ministries and mission efforts of CBFers. When it comes to which side is "right," I am reminded of what my new ministry friend said about it: "They're all wrong!" He maintained that SBC, MBC, and CBF folks all have their problems and it's sad that they can't get along.

I think there is some truth to that statement, and realize there is no perfect organization for carrying out the Lord's work. It is wonderful and sometimes frustrating that denominations exist. I remind myself daily that the headquarters for the Lord's work remains the local church. Still, my hope is that the General Assembly and coinciding Centennial celebration of the American Baptist Convention will lead to new latitudes and new attitudes for support and mutual appreciation. We Baptists must realize that cooperation for the cause of Christ is better than rattling our doctrinal sabers at one another. The age old motto still rings true: "In essentials, Unity. In non-essentials, Liberty. In all things, Charity."

Jim Bakker's Rummage Sale

One of the challenges of getting settled into a new community is learning the new TV channels. With three children, I opted for the "family package" which provides more channels for viewing. This should provide enough differences in programming to please just about everyone in the house. Unfortunately, having more channels in Springfield does not necessarily equate to a greater variety of choices. Getting an increase in channels means receiving a disproportionate number of religious channels along with several home shopping networks. I'm not pleased about this, and I'm not certain what to do about it. We'll see how critical this is when football season starts and when TV viewing gets more serious. I could always use more sports channels. The last thing this preacher needs is more inspirational networks.

Jim Bakker is back on television. His broadcast out of Branson is called the "The New Jim Bakker Show" and his wife co-hosts along the same line as did Tammy Fae and looks like her to some degree. I watched a little bit of it tonight, and they were celebrating 1000 broadcasts by asking people to contribute money to the ministry. Bakker talked about the construction of a Grace chapel and asked folks who believed in grace to give him a $1000. There were incentives to pull out your credit card, as the camera panned over to items that you'd likely to stumble over at a rummage sale. Several pictures of Jesus were available along with nativity figurines and from my estimation, cheap looking jewelry. As Ray Stevens sang, "Would Jesus wear a Rolex?" Let's not forget about the VIP club you can join if the price is right. This offers special discounts and allows you get these items for free. Sounds like a spiritual Sam's Club.

I'm grateful that Bakker is out of prison and proclaiming a message of grace and love to his viewers. His remarks about getting to know his son have been particularly meaningful. Apparently, his experiences in recent years are forging his message, although tonight he was quoting from the Old Testament to get people to give toward rebuilding his ministry. There may very well be place for a broadcast like this one, but the idea of selling material things in exchange for financial donations turns me off. These items looked really tacky to me. Bakker's message sounded like a remix of the old PTL club pitch from decades ago. No doubt he will have his critics, simply because he is back in television ministry after his fall. I'm not criticial of that part of it, as my only acquaintance with him has been watching him on Larry King Live a time or two.

I'll never be on television or know the thrill of reaching into thousands or millions of homes. I'll also never have to stoop to selling trinkets to church members while asking them for $1000 seed gifts that the Lord will surely honor. Do you think we'll ever hear about a televangelist giving away $1000 away in order for the Lord to bless his own ministry? You can figure that one out. I recall Oral Roberts asking for donations to support his TV ministry and locking himself in a room. He said he wouldn't come out until he had enough money and that "God would strike him dead" if he didn't raise one million dollars. Roberts got the money from the owner of a dog racing track. The Lord works in mysterious ways, indeed.

There is a precarious balance between money and ministry, and one cannot love the former and effectively carry out the latter. As a pastor, I have found that there are times to challenge the people in their giving. But, I've never thought of providing pictures of Jesus should church members give up to a certain amount or offer VIP seating in the sanctuary. There shouldn't be material incentives in order to get folks to seek spiritual blessings. Bakker sounded pretty sincere in his appeals tonight, emphasizing that he totally depends on the financial support of his viewers to remain on the air. However, you would think that the request itself would be enough to persuade his supporters.

Bakker is not the only one out there making appeals and I have been an equal opportunity offender when it comes to certain types of religious programming. TV preachers know how to use spiritual language in order to cash in. I wonder to what extent these television ministers would go to bring in financial support. Bakker and others might be selling something, but I'm not buying. The local church is where the real ministry occurs and I'll send my money toward impacting our own community for Christ. Besides, if I had any additional funds they'd be directed towards getting a better cable package. Five religious channels is almost more that I can stand.

What a Pastor should do for the Church

I'm following up the previous blog to deal with the other side of the pulpit, so to speak. It has been a while since I've sat in a pew on a regular basis, but I have tried to maintain the mindset of the layperson as much as possible. I've been at this over a decade, hardly a lifetime of experience but hopefully enough to forge out a philosophy of ministry. Here are a few modest thoughts about what I think a pastor should do for the church.

First and foremost the pastor should preach the gospel, nothing more and nothing less. This is not as easy as it sounds. It takes a lifetime to learn about who Jesus is and what he has done for us and even then this reality is beyond comprehension. The Apostle Paul called it the "foolishness of preaching" and there are days when I wonder if anything is getting through to the people. It's ironic that the days I don't feel particularly good about a sermon, those are the times people respond to the Invitation for baptism or membership. The Holy Spirit really does draw people to Jesus Christ and I am only the vessel to get the message across.

I've been hearing about pastors, particularly of larger congregations, complaining about the lack of time for sermon preparation and the need to pull manuscripts off the internet. While certainly relating to the time demands, I could not download someone else's sermon and claim it for my own. Plagarism still applies to pastors. Yes, there is vision-casting, visiting, counseling, administration, and public relations to consider and the time can get away from you. While not an avid W.A. Criswell fan, I do appreciate his emphasis on "giving the mornings to God" for sermon preparation. The greatest good for the greatest number of people can occur on Sunday morning.

The pastor should also love the people. Jesus said we are known as his disciples by this characteristic, and the sad reality is that the church doesn't always do a good job at this. Sometimes the pastor doesn't either, but it still up to him to set the tone as much as possible in this area. I wish it were true that this comes easily, and when dealing with most people it does. It becomes more difficult when people hurt you and those you love. Pastors are people too, and must deal with their emotions just like anybody else. Loving people is not only good for them but also good for the pastor too. And it is not optional. It's important not to preach angry, and to check your temper at the door.

Part of loving the church also relates to being honest with them and "speaking the truth in love" as the Apostle Paul told Timothy. Sometimes folks confuse being loved with always being told what they want to hear. Pastors have a responsibility of challenging their people from the pulpit and also being there for them during joys and hardships. Both aspects are important. Members are more likely to listen to a pastor who shows concern for them on days other than Sunday. I may be idealistic, but would like to believe that most church members appreciate a pastor who cares enough about them to challenges to them to deeper walk with Christ. Loving folks who are lovable is not that difficult, it's those other folks you have to work harder on.

Finally I would say that the pastors should lead the people. They are accountable before God for being good stewards of the opportunity to influence people for Christ. Leadership is not dictatorship, and for some reason this has been a problem in moderate churches in particular. Traditional Baptist churches who value the priesthood of believers distinctive sometimes rebel against a pastor who wants to assert himself. Leadership does not diminish the priesthood concept, as our Lord has placed certain individuals in the church for this very purpose. Pastors can become frustrated when they are restrained from using their gifts and abilities to the fullest. I am convinced that not every church wants a pastor to lead them. They may say they want a pastor, but this means someone closer to a chaplain who will take care of sick folks. This is important work but fails to acknowledge the church's role as a headquarters for mission activity in their community.

I'm heard it said that a pastor who is leading his church when no one is following is only out for a walk. There is a mutual accountablity between pastors and their churches, and that is why I believe churches and pastors should listen to each other. It baffles me how many times a pastor will enter a new situation and attempt to make major changes. Sometimes this is needed, but usually it takes time to adapt to new people and earn the respect of the people. Mega-church pastors tend to attempt this shortly after their arrival, sometimes with catastrophic results. On the other hand, some churches resist any kind of leadership from the pastor and don't want to do anything that might "rock the boat." It takes a great deal of discernment to know how much to do and how soon to do, and pastors should take heed to the leadership of the Holy Spirit to set the agenda for their own lives and that of their congregations.

Regardless of what else pastors accomplish, they are responsible for being good role models and being the presence of Christ is their churches and communities. It is an awesome responsibility and privilege to stand before the people week after week, and pastors should take special care of their influence and relationships. It should go without saying that ministers should be above reproach and set a good example for their church families. I mention it because pastors have been known to experience "moral failure" with devastating effects to all those around them. Because of this reality, it's important not to say "that will never happen to me" because pride does go before a fall. We pastors (and ministers as a whole) should pray regularly for the Lord to "keep us from evil."

What a Church should do for its Pastor

Starting another pastorate here in Springfield has got me thinking about one of my former seminary professors. Dr. Bob Simmons served as Professor of Missions at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and prior to that was a missionary to the Philippines. He and his wife Mary have meant a great deal to me through the years through their kind words, imparted wisdom, and continued interest in my ministry path. I recall his preaching the annual associational sermon one year in which he told church members what they could do to help their pastors. I've remembered his outline and the general theme of his message.

The first thing churches can do for their pastors is listen to them. Baptist churches, in particular, go through something akin to a courtship leading ultimately to "a call" to be the pastor. Once this occurs, the pastor begins the process of learning the people, community, and mechanics of the church as a whole. It's important to remember the wonder of how God brings a pastor to a local church, working through fallible human beings to accomplish his purpose. Most times this process appears to work well, although there are times that the match doesn't gell. Even so, pastors worth their salt will put the time and energy into preparing sermons week after week. This is challenging task to be interesting, fresh, and have something new to say each time. Churches would do well to tune in to their pastors not only when they preach but also as they lead. Pastors are not perfect, certainly, but something special happens in that preaching moment. I am considering the fact that pastors do their own material and not get them from others off the internet and pass it off as their own.

The second thing churches can do is lift them, and by this I mean in prayer. I haven't been at this work as long as others, but can attest to how important it is for members to pray for their pastor. There are constant demands on time and the hours take a toll physically and spiritually. To be sure, it is a great privilege to be a pastor but there is a relationship and responsibility on behalf of the church. Unfortunately, there have been too many examples of pastoral moral failure and infidelity, both personal and financial. These situations wreak a great deal of damage on the body of Christ and some churches never fully recover. Our battle is primarily spiritual in nature, and therefore we must not overlook our greatest weapons of prayer and the memorized Word. Many pastors wear so many ministry hats that they are frazzled with the work load, not to mention trying to maintain a family life. Wise churches will lift up their pastors daily. It's important that God's people pray for the courage and wisdom of their ministers.

The third thing churches can do for their pastors is love them. This should be obvious and in some regard the very idea of asking a church to love its pastor is presumptious. It's clear from the Bible we are to love one another and the other reason is that "love covers over a multitude of sins." In what is called "the honeymoon phase," pastors and churches can only see the good and positive sides. Over time, the warts and blemishes become more noticeable and it becomes obvious that neither is without flaws. This is where it's important to keep loving each other anyway. Pastors make mistakes, often in an effort to lead and do something constructive for their church. Sadly, I have heard of examples where churches mistreat their pastors and other ministers. This is how I heard about the Ministering to Ministers program (MTM) for clergy who have experienced church abuse. No one really wants to talk about forced termination that much, it's not something denominations want to bring into focus. There are a number of pastors (and staff) working in almost intolerable situations because the people are so unkind.

I came across a book review of Dr. John Killinger's book about what they don't teach you in seminary. One of his statements referred to a meanness in some church members that is simply hard to understand. I can believe this, and it makes me wonder how some church folks can look themselves in the mirror knowing the grief they are putting their pastors through. Fortunately, there are many loving and kind persons in the church but these can be overlooked with there is difficulty. With all the pastors out there having troubles, it makes me appreciate what kind of a situation I have now. I've come to the conclusion that the best way to show love for pastors is to love their families and take care of their financial needs. The spouses and children of pastors come under a lot of scrutiny and there is pressure to maintain a normal family life. It's tough not to bring church stuff into the house, but when the church loves its pastor the stress becomes more manageable.

These aren't the only areas the churches should focus on, but they are keys to overcoming many of the pressures that pastors and congregations face. There are many things pastors wish their congregations knew, and vice versa. But, when churches listen, lift, and love their pastors the work becomes a "joy, not a burden." Pastors who serve these kinds of congregations are truly fortunate and should express their appreciation regularly. Dr. Simmons' words have stayed with me, and I wish that every church could have heard that sermon at FBC Meridian, MS several years ago. It could go a long way in strengthening and lengthening the abbreviated tenures of pastors in Baptist churches.

SBC President Condemns NBC

There has been another salvo fired against the formation of the New Baptist Covenant (NBC). Not so surprisingly, it comes from Dr. Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Page was quoted in a recent Baptist Press article as saying "I will not be a part of any smokescreen leftwing liberal agenda that seeks to deny the greatest need in our world, that being the lost be shown the way to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (5/30/07). I say that this is not unusual but in a sense I had hoped that this SBC president would at least be more open to getting the whole story before condemning a gathering of more than 40 kinds of Baptists scheduled for early 2008.

Initial reports for this NBC meeting anticipate approximately 20,000 Baptists gathering in Atlanta to talk about what we have in common as Baptists and how we can work together across racial, gender, social, and economic barriers for the cause of Christ. This is the preliminary idea I'm getting from their website (newbaptistcovenant.org). With all the things that divide us, it is worth taking a second look at those issues that we all can labor together for to improve our world. That doesn't mean that the gospel is diluted or that the particularity and uniqueness of Jesus Christ as the only way to heaven has to be dismissed. The NBC provides an opportunity to celebrate our historic Baptist distinctives and remember our denominational roots.

I'm not so naive as to think that the NBC isn't above criticism but let's wait until after the meeting to determine whether it's a "smokescreen left-wing agenda." The Atlanta meeting may very well turn out to be an affirmation of Jesus' first sermon as recorded in Luke 4. Then again, the SBC president may very well equate both to be one and the same. There will undoubtedly be Baptists of a broad spectrum of theological and political stripes in Atlanta for the meeting in early 2008. This is a good thing, and if we can ever get past the label and libel technique in dealing with folks who don't agree with us on everything, perhaps something substantive can happen. Like finding out that there are significant areas of agreement out there that stem from the words of Jesus as recorded in Luke 4.

I haven't heard anything (yet) that remotely sounds like a denial of biblical authority or that Jesus Christ is the "way, the truth, and the life." This is why Dr. Page's soundbite is so disappointing to this Baptist. There is more to Baptist life than what happens in June at the Southern Baptist Convention. The SBC president's remarks are timely before the annual meeting and will garner some applause, but will it be interesting to see what the younger guard thinks of his criticisms. Several young SBC bloggers with a growing readership met with former President Jimmy Carter at the Carter Center earlier this year to talk about the agenda for the NBC. They will decide for themselves what to think. This is a novel concept.

Jesus' first sermon generated a lot of criticism too, as it infuriated the religious establishment of that day. It shouldn't be too surprising that an emphasis on his words would generate a similar response. Let's avoid the "shoot first and ask questions later" approach to dealing with people. Time will tell whether the NBC has any merit or not.

Pardon the Interruption

It's been about a month since my last entry, way too long to go with so much going on in my life right now. Suffice it so say that there is a lot involved in bringing one ministry to a close and gearing up for another one. Our family is in the process of getting ready to move this weekend and hoping to touch down in Springfield, MO on Memorial Day to bring our belongings into an empty house we will call home. I am planning to be in the pulpit for my first Sunday as pastor of University Heights Baptist Church on June 3rd.

For the masses (ministerially speaking) who normally look for me at Signal Mountain Musings, welcome to my new location with a new title. It isn't all that original, but should be easy to remember. Once on my feet in Springfield, I hope to once again add to the dialogue taking place in Baptist land. I can tell you that I am really excited and grateful to be in a church with American Baptist and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leanings. Our Baptist distinctives are extremely important to me, and I believe I can resonate with the traditional Baptists who are part of the family of faith at UHBC. I'm looking forward to making a difference in a new ministry location and getting to know folks of a Missouri persuasion.

As this move has unfolded, I've been reminded of what the late Dr. Charles Harvey, Sr. said to a fellow student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary during class one day. This particular student had some difficulty at his church and was concerned about what he should do. I'll never forget Dr. Harvey's response. He said, "People may thwart the will of God, but God takes care of his servants." That remark, uttered over 15 years ago has remained part of my ministry vocabulary all this time. I've seen this truth validated time and again with my friends as well as in my own life. I'm excited about this next chapter of my life, and look forward to discussions about Baptist issues once again in this format very soon.

Reaching New Heights

We made it through the TN-CBF General Assembly yesterday. Our church responded beautifully to the all the guests from across the state and really rose to the challenge of hosting this event. The planning began back last fall, and it seems a birth has taken place. I enjoyed the day very much and feel like this was a high point for the church. The theme selected back in October, which I recommended to the planning team was "Reaching New Heights" based on Habakkuk 3:19. I had no idea then how appropriate that theme would be 7 months later.

Today I submitted my resignation as pastor of Signal Mountain Baptist Church. My family and I are preparing to move to Springfield, MO where I will become pastor of University Heights Baptist Church (UHBC) on June 1. The church facility is located across the street from Missouri State University. This is a wonderful opportunity for me and my family, and I have a genuine sense of call in making the move. Leaving Signal Mountain is bittersweet, as there are many good memories and friends whom I will be leaving behind. These emotions are offset by the challenge and opportunity of making new friends and taking on new challenges.

I don't know much about Missouri. It is outside the Southeastern Conference and this definitely makes it a mission field of sorts. The denominational landscape appears pretty confusing, as the direction of the state convention has brought about two moderate responses: the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Missouri (CBFMO) and most recently the Baptist General Convention of Missouri (BGCM). Although these two groups are "moderate" organizations, there is a difference between a CBF moderate and a BGCM moderate. These kinds of distinctions will be interesting to sift through upon my arrival. I'm pleased with the denominational affiliations of UHBC, as the church is aligned with the CBF and the American Baptist Convention (ABC). It is an oasis of sorts for retired ministers and folks who appreciate a traditional Baptist church family. It will be exciting to attend the CBF General Assembly in Washington D.C. in June, as the ABC's centennial celebration is being held in the same place. I'm looking forward to making new friends and getting reconnected with old ones.

I've always believed that God's timing is his signature. The Lord has been faithful to me and my family, and I am excited about the next chapter of our lives. I'm looking forward to truly "reaching new heights."

The Other Side of Easter

It's been a while since my last entry. We've hit a stretch of busy-ness during the Lenton season culminating in a wonderful Easter service last Sunday morning. The next thing you know, it's been a month. As per every Easter, we had fewer empty pews and even as I get excited about that I also wonder why it can't be that way every week. We worship on Sunday because of the Resurrection, and in a sense every Sunday is Easter. There is no answer to this, and there will be the usual fall off afterwards. Still, the message rings true and it is up to each one of us to respond. The words "He is not here, he is risen!" resonate through the centuries and are as powerful today as they were in the 1st century.

I came across a prayer by St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) that is a good way to begin the other side of Easter:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

George Matheson, the well-known blind preacher of Scotland, once said,"My dear God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked you a thousand times for my roses but not once for my thorns. I have always looked forward to the place where I will be rewarded for my cross, but I have never thought of my cross as a present glory itself" (Streams in the Desert, 147).

Houston, We have Another Problem

It looks like Jesus is alive and well in Houston, TX. At least that's what I heard in an ABC News special this last week. Correspondent Jim Avila did a story on Jose de Jesus, a man who claims to the second coming of Christ and counts followers in more than 30 countries. Those who believe in him get the number "666" tattooed on their bodies. Ironically, these folks don't consider themselves followers of the Devil but rather Jesus Christ. And they believe that he lives in a suburb outside Houston.

This Jesus is a 60-year old Puerto Rican who has eight felony charges, been married twice, and enjoys smoking and drinking in public. He claims that the same spirit that was in Jesus of Nazereth "integrated with my person in 1973." According to Jose de Jesus, there is no such thing as sin, Satan, hell, or any eternal damnation of any type. There are no rules in de Jesus' church, and evidently this message resonates with many who are looking for something to believe in. He has big followings in Venezuela, Columbia, and Cuba, and is looking to establish a foothold in America. Yes, this "Jesus of Suburbia" is for real and intends to get his message across.

I'm not sure what surprises me more, hearing that people believe this 60-year old is the Christ or that the media covers him. Either way, I find myself reminded that there are people out there who will believe literally anything. De Jesus quotes just enough Scripture to sound good, but apparently doesn't buy into the other, hard sayings of the Bible. Reggie McNeal, author of The Present Future, refutes the notion that knowing Bible verses leads to authentic conversion. He states: "We have believed that if people get enough Bible information, it will automatically transform their lives. Wrong! The devil knows more Bible than most church members in North America and can sign off on our doctrinal statements, but this knowledge has not transformed him."

This ABC story comes at a convenient time, during the Lenton season leading up to Easter. After all, Jesus is an extremely popular figure this time of year, and the media knows this. James Cameron got a lot of publicity by presenting a documentary claiming to have located the bones of Jesus, his mother Mary, Mary Magdelene, and Joseph his earthly father. I got a kick out of Headlines News' caption "Cameron's Claim may Shatter Christianity" which appeared as they were showing clips of the documentary. This isn't a marketing technique, is it?

If there is a positive thing about the De Jesus story and even what Cameron has done it would be that it has jumpstarted a dialogue about who Jesus was and who he claimed to be. We shouldn't be afraid to talk about what we believe, especially as we approach Easter Sunday. Hearing these absurd claims shouldn't shock us all that much, but make us realize the importance of getting our own message out there. Of course, it isn't our message, but one that has been around for more than 2000 years. This isn't the first time counterfeit Christs have come on the scene, and one wonders whether this guy is in the same mold as Jim Jones. His movement has the markings of a cult, regardless of whether his followers drink the poison Kool-Aid or not. What saddens me even more is the number of children who are being taught that De Jesus really is the second coming of Christ.

There have always been and will continue to be alternatives to the biblical witness. There is a danger of making God into our own image and creating a Savior to our own liking. I've been thinking a lot about the nature of discipleship here lately, and the Jesus I believe in was not one to mince words about the cost of following him. He said, "If anyone should come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). You don't hear a lot about a cross of any kind from the Jesus of Suburbia. And this shouldn't surprise us, because the cross causes many people to stumble. Yet, without the cross, there is no death, and if there is no death, there can be no resurrection.

The Bible makes it clear that there will be false prophets, those who claim to be Christ. It's important that we tell our people about that. But, we must also proclaim and live out a faith that requires costly commitment to the One who died for our sins. And we're not going to find him living in Houston.

Baptists and Lent

Baptist churches aren't known for following the Christian calendar. Perhaps this is due to a fear of being considered too ecumenical or Catholic. At least this is what I'm hearing from our Wednesday night Bible study group. On Ash Wednesday, we started a series on the Lenton season using material provided through The Baptist World Alliance. It's called "Eyeing Easter" and provides several weeks on themes leading up to Resurrection Sunday. This is a first for me and I got the feeling it was for our group as well. In fact, when I asked them about Lent, most had heard of it but none had ever experienced it in a Baptist church.

It seems like it's becoming more acceptable for Baptist churches to observe the Advent Season--the Sundays after Thanksgiving leading up to Christmas. Changing Christmas from a "day" to a "season" heightens the expection of celebrating the birth of Jesus. Having an observance of Lent should do the same thing, and my hope is that Wednesdays will offer a time for dialogue and spiritual renewal. We've added a cross (a large wooden one) that will be positioned on the platform in the sanctuary that will have a purple cloth draped across the horizontal beam. On Maundy Thursday the cloth will be changed to black, in conjuntion to a worship service we're having for the first time on that day. Of course, the cloth will go to white on Easter Sunday. The colors have their symbolism and should add to the meaning of the worship experience.

The Lenton season is a 40 day period leading up to Easter that emerged during the Early Church (4th century). New believers used this time for renewal and preparation prior to their baptism on Easter Sunday. The significance of these weeks expanded to include other members of the church as they were encouraged to reflect upon their humanity, sinfulness, and need for repentance and cleansing. Sometimes Christians "give something up for Lent" to help them focus on the truly important things in life. One criticism I've often heard relates to Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). After doing just about anything and everything behavior wise leading up to this day, revellers file into churches to have ashes placed on their foreheads as a reminder "from ashes you came, and from ashes you shall return." The implication is that many people aren't sincere about repentance and want to get in as much sin as possible before Ash Wednesday. I heard this a lot when I lived in New Orleans, and questioned the sincerity of those folks filing into St. Louis Cathedral after they'd be out the night before on Bourbon Street (I couldn't prove that, but the timing of it seemed suspicious to me).

Regardless, there is great value in expanding the celebration of Easter from only one day to a season. Just because some folks don't seem to "get it" doesn't mean everyone feels that way. Besides, we ought not be judging others anyway. We all have sinned and need forgiveness. Maybe that's what the Lenton season is about. It makes sense to start focusing on the cross now so that by Easter we have gleaned as much spiritual meaning as possible. Baptists would benefit from thoughtful and meaningful reflection on our sinful condition. Unfortunately, this kind of thinking doesn't seem to be a strength for us. We would do well to embrace the ecumenical spirit inherit in the Lenton season. We all are sinners. We all need to be reconciled to God. We all need renewal. By observing Lent, Christians could be more in tune to the power of the Resurrection and more grateful for the forgiveness and mercy Christ provides.

I'm excited about taking the Lenton journey with those in our Bible Study, and look forward to incorporating different aspects of it into our worship services on Sundays. I wonder how many other Baptist churches are acknowledging this season and ideas for its observance. I'd appreciate any feedback visitors to this blog might have (unless, of course, you've given up blogging for Lent).

The Church's Search for Relevance

I've always been associated with the church. For as long as I can remember, the church has had an important part of my life and now as a father it remains a central component for our spiritual health. Having attended seminary for eight years, I was exposed to Greek and Hebrew, theology, ethics, and Christian education techniques and trends. I graduated (for the last time) in December 1996, so it's only been ten years since my formal training. I say all to this to make the point that at times I feel the disconnection between how I was educated and the world in which I serve as a minister. I've become more and more convinced that the methods that worked well 20 years ago don't communicate effectively, or as effectively as they once did. And I struggle to find an answer for it. Apparently, I'm not alone in this thinking.

Leonard Sweet echoed this sentiment in a lecture given to about 150 students at the George W. Truett Seminary in Waco, TX. He talked about postmodernism--the worldview that questions modern assumptions about certainty and progress. Sweet believes the church in the West "can no longer expect to have that home-court advantage." He added that Christians have to face this reality, and can either "deal with it, get over it, or get help." What this means to me is that simply depending on persons to be attracted by and to our church buildings no longer works in the 21st Century. The church has too long been associated with a building and not so much by the people as the body of Christ. Sometimes our language contributes to this dynamic. I'll talk about "going to church" like most other folks, but need to communicate more often that we ARE the church for more than an hour or two on Sundays.

Some of the changes in our society are troubling, and the truth is that many Christians have adopted the hymn "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" as their theme song. They interpret the lyrics to mean they should hunker down under their pews while the rest of the world goes through dramatic cultural and theological shifts. Most Americans believe in God, yet many do not attend church or believe that Jesus is the Son of God. As troubling as this might seem, it is also a wonderful opportunity for churches to become engaged in their community and world. There are more methods and means available for spreading the gospel than any other time in history. We have to determine our attitude. As Sweet said, we can either deal with it or get over it. It doesn't do any good to complain about why so many people aren't attending church these days. There are far too many options available on Sunday mornings, as folks are choosing the country club or IHOPs for their spiritual nourishment. Church isn't even on the radar for many people as they wake up on Sundays.

This is remarkably similar to 1st Century Christianity. Sweet commented, "I think God is defragging and rebooting the church. I think what he is doing is getting us back to the original operating system of Christianity." He maintains that the old model of church is "killing the West" and the out-dated model is "attractional, propositional, and colonial." What this says to me is that the old mindset that thinks people know where the church building is and can come is no longer effective. A cold orthodoxy doesn't appeal to the masses, and I'm not talking about watering down the gospel or tenets of biblical Christianity. The "if you build it, they will come" approach doesn't connect and most of the general public aren't impressed with our beautiful buildings. It also means that the church isn't the center of the community anymore, with rare exceptions being in the rural areas when there hasn't been any change nor will their be in the quality of life.

Sweet's call for a "missional, relational, and incarnational" church resonates with me. As a pastor, I am constantly thinking of our people and those in the community who aren't part of a fellowship of believers. Our mindset should be one of missionaries rather than merely members who are part of a club, as Reggie McNeal would say. We shouldn't think of the mission field as something overseas, out of sight, and only considered when missions offerings are received. Each church is a headquarters for the Lord's mission and work in expanding the Kingdom of God. It's not always about buildings, budgets, and baptisms. It's about how the church is connecting with those in the community and in our families. These are things that can't be measured quantitatively all the time, a difficult reality for pastors and members who base their success on how many people fill the pews.

It's difficult dealing with this postmodern idea when you've been raised in the church your whole life. Sometimes it takes someone on the outside looking in to inform us how we can more effectively communicate the gospel. Many people are interested in spirituality these days, but don't consider the local church as a resource for fostering their growth in that area. This is a shame and an indictment on the local church. It should cause us to reconsider our methods and "churchspeak" in telling people about Jesus. I am attempting to "reboot" my own theological system and assumptions in reaching a younger generation who doesn't have the built-in allegiance to the church. While some discussions focus around kinds of worship, more recent conversations deal with an "ancient-future" dynamic that tries to merge the worship style of early church with the 21st century realities. The Emergent Church might be going in this direction, and I'll be interested to see how that dialogue goes.

An important option in addressing these changes relates to new church starts. Congregations that were birthed during WWI or even WWII have been built by members who understand commitment, sacrifice, and loyalty to the institutional church. Many of these precious folks are still around and end up doing much of the serving, teaching, and giving. You can look back at the records of churches during the 1950s or 60s and see that this was the golden age of attendance and influence. Our senior adults today were the young to middle age group who were faithful to be at the church "every time the door was opened." Churches built on this mentality may have difficulty relating to baby busters and millennials who don't have that same kind of devotion to church. The younger generation has a different worldview and experience, so new churches find it easier to relate without the expectations of an older church. New churches don't have to do something "because we've always done it that way."

I don't have the answers to the postmodern situation, but am considering the possibility that the best approach might be to enter into patient talks about spirituality, faith, and purpose. A new generation of people are eager for dialogue and aren't necessarily looking for specific answers but rather for the process of working through their own spirituality. This is a critical moment for the church to meet them where they are rather than insist that they walk through the building doors before having a conversation with them. Pontius Pilate's question "What is truth?" uttered 2000 years ago is still being repeated in a variety of ways and settings. We know that Jesus is "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb 13:8) and the Good News still rings true. Let us continue making the effort, dealing with the struggles, and celebrating the joys that come with being a Christian in 2007.