Politikin' Pastors

A group of pastors supporting the Alliance Defense Fund's (a conservative legal group) "pulpit initiative" defied IRS regulations Sunday and endorsed presidential candidates from the pulpit. According to the Associated Press story, 33 pastors in 22 states made specific endorsements of presidential candidates from the pulpit Sunday in an effort to force an IRS investigation in hopes of challenging the ruling in the courts.
The group says this is a First Amendment issue and not an endorsement issue. Pastor Jody Hice of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Bethlehem, Ga., was quoted in the AP story as saying, "To say the church can't deal with moral and societal issues if it enters into the political arena is just wrong, it's unconstitutional." The AP story continues:

At the independent Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond, Okla., pastor Paul Blair said he told his congregation, "As a Christian and as an American citizen, I will be voting for John McCain."

"It's absolutely vital to proclaim the truth and not be afraid to proclaim the truth from our pulpits," Blair said in an interview.

Because the pastors were speaking in their official capacity as clergy, the sermons are clear violations of IRS rules, said Robert Tuttle, a professor of law and religion at George Washington University. But even if the IRS rises to the bait and a legal fight ensues, Tuttle said there's "virtually no chance" courts will strike down the prohibition.

This is dangerous territory. I couldn't disagree more with these pastors. To stand behind the First Amendment reduces the church to the limitations of a human created document of one nation (the U.S. Constitution). I would argue that the Gospel and Christ's church transcends nations and national documents. The guiding and framing document for Christian clergy in any country should be the Bible. And the Bible is not a political document. Yes, it speaks to politics, morals, and life issues, but at its core it is a book of salvation. It is a book of faith. It's the story of God passionately pursuing humanity through a number of means (Law, judges, prophets, kings, etc.) and ultimately through His Son, Jesus Christ who came to save us from that which we cannot save ourselves, sin.

As far as national and historic documents go, the U.S. Constitution is a dandy. While it's not perfect, it works. But to surrender the defense of our faith (apologetics) to the Constitution is not very wise. I can hear the "endorsement preacher crowd" calling me a heretic, or liberal about now, but they would do wise to spend more time living out and preaching the gospel than making sure everyone in their respective church pews votes for the candidate they like. This is a poor theology of preaching, and at its worse, flat out spiritual manipulation. I'd rather teach and preach the Gospel as best I can, and let the Christ-followers in my church attempt to submit their lives and decisions to the authority of God through Scripture, prayer and the leadership of the Holy Spirit than to rely on me to tell them how to vote, or think. After all, they are ultimately accountable to God, not their pastor!

Undoubtedly a few of these politically charged pastors will compare their pulpit candidate endorsement to the Old Testament prophet's warnings to the people of Israel about certain disobedient kings or national leaders. That's a huge leap considering the Old Testament examples are in regard to "spiritual" Israel not a secular/civil republic that was not even on the radar during the time of the biblical narrative. Let's be honest, we are not a spiritual state or country. In other words, our government is secular, not religious. Remember, our forefathers set it up that way on purpose to prevent the church, or her clergy from telling them what they could or could not do as a country. See any parallels?

This is not to say that I'm not in agreement, or sympathetic with some of their recommendations in regard to political candidates. However, I am not called to tell people how to vote, but I am called to share and live out the Gospel. Hopefully, through the way I teach and help them experience and learn God's word, they will make prayerful, informed and Christ-led decisions in the voting booth. They will engage their heart, soul and mind with an informed faith. I guess it really comes down to trusting your preaching-teaching, the people in the pew, and ultimately God!

P.S. It's high time American conservative Christians quit casting fellow Christ-followers who happen to be members of an opposing earthly political party as not being Christian! That is very dangerous ground upon which to tread because it means that you have the ability to know someones heart, motive and will. In other words, it means they have put themselves in position or place the Bible says is exclusively reserved for God.

The Federal Bailout, Financial Security and Faith

AIG, Lehman Bros., Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, IndyMac, Bear Stearns, and Merrill Lynch are just a few of the big financial names to go down on Wall Street. Some have been rescued by large banks or brokered deals between other financial giants to keep them afloat and many are sitting on pins as they await the fate of a controversial $700 billion proposed Federal buyout. The Congress is not on the same page in regard to the proposal. Members within the same political party aren't even in agreement about the bailout. In South Carolina both Republican senators are split on the proposal. Senator DeMint is opposed to the idea and Senator Graham is for it. It's hard to believe that bad mortgage debt is responsible for most of this financial crisis. A good friend is a seasoned CPA and while he doesn't like the bailout proposal, he thinks it's unavoidable. Today's editorial in the Greenville News was more like a half-hearted endorsement given the lack of a credible alternative.

I'm not a financial expert. I'm just an average person and many people like myself do not understand such complicated matters. You see, if we don't pay our bills, or we default on our loans we are responsible and no one is going to rescue us. There are consequences for our actions. In serious situations a judge will outline a payback plan and possibly give us some jail time. The question of personal responsibility and accountability for bad loans, poor financial restraint and a total lack of institutional control seems to be of little concern until the who, what, how much and when of the bailout is settled. Isn't that kind of like rewarding a teenager convicted of DUI with a brand new car? How will he ever learn to be responsible?

Giving the fund managers, loan officers and traders who contributed to this mess a pile of federal money to rescue their companies and save the economy seems absurd. Oh sure a few heads at the top will roll and be dismissed, but no one believes this giant mess was created by a handful of Wall Street top bosses on their own. So after we have the ceremonial and obligatory punishment of the tailored suit, yacht-riding crowd (and yes they need to answer for it), who do you think is going to be hired to help resuccitate these failed financial giants? ---The very financial wizards in the trenches and on the floor whose unbridled greed contributed to this mess. And let's be honest. Not every mortgage exec or loan officer is greedy and irresponsible. In fact, most of them care about their clients and abide by federal law, policies and procedures.

Long ago in a seminary leadership class my professor cited a leadership guru who said, "Managers focus on doing things right. Leaders focus on doing the right thing." Whatever the Wall Street and Washington officials decide is going to be painful for all of us. However, sometimes doing the"greater good" sacrifices things like morality, responsibility, and consequences. I sure hope succeeding generations don't follow their lead if ethics are sacrificed on the altar of financial rescue.

My 401 retirement plan is lower than what many of these wealthy execs spend in a week to maintain their private jets, yachts and homes in the Hamptons, or on Martha's Vineyard. However, if doing the right thing means my retirement fund may take a major hit so ethical business standards can be upheld, so be it. I'd rather have my future grandchildren go without an ice cream cone or two from their grandfather and be able to look back on this place in time and see a shining example of ethics bathed in corporate and personal responsibility.

Today I'm just grateful that my personal security is not found in investments, retirement funds, stocks, real estate, gold or gas futures. My security is found solely in Jesus Christ. Yes we all need to save, spend less and prepare for the future. But we need to live life now. My goal (Philippians 3:7-12) and joy in life is not dependent upon circumstances, even economic ones. And joy does not mean the absence of pain, disappointment, loss, or heartache. However, my joy, hope and future are rooted in the person of Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:1-4). I'm with the Apostle Paul who said that any pain or trouble in this world (even economic loss) pales in comparison to what those who profess Christ now will receive (Romans 8:18). One day this stuff is going to matter to those who've put all their faith and energy into earthly investments. One day they will learn (way too late I fear) that life is about so much more than our personal assets. Reminds me of the line from a George Strait song, "I've never seen a hearse with a luggage rack." I really do enjoy living, but my ultimate home is not of this world and I can cry in confidence with the last human words uttered to God in Scripture: "Come, Lord Jesus." (Rev. 22:20)

The Techonology Highway: Progress or Distraction?

My friend and fellow pastor, David Head in Lexington, Kentucky provides some great commentary on his blog regarding the growing phenomenon of people texting and emailing during worship services. You can check it out at: PonderAnew

I found it sadly amusing that I caught David's blog while surfing the web with my laptop waiting on my car at a local dealership. Picture this. It's Saturday, sunny and an abnormally cool day for our part of the country. The dealership service waiting area is crowded. Only three people out of about 25 of us waiting is reading a book, or newspaper. Twenty of them are: talking/texting on a cellphone; online at one of the five computer stations provided by the dealership, while others wait to get on one; and two people are sleeping in the lounge with the television. Oh yeah, I forgot to include the three children in the area for kids watching Disney DVD's. My point? No one is relating personally to their immediate environment. We're all connected to something or someone else (via the Internet, or someone on the other end of our cell), but none of us is engaging the other in fairly close quarters.

I text. I Google. I Gmail. I surf. I blog. I travel with that geeky Verizon guy and his "network" band. Yes, I am a strong advocate of the electronic and cyber-world. However, I continue to find that instead of using electronic gadgets, they are using us. Heck, a weekly morning prayer group I attend can't make it through the ungodly early hour we gather without one of our phones vibrating, or buzzing during prayer.

It's time to unplug! I mean it. Go for a walk, mow the yard, work out, play golf, visit a coffee house, read a book, or newspaper, engage in one on one, face to face conversation with those you love, focus solely on God in a worship service, but do it all (at least once a week) without anything electronic in front of you. It will be a major challenge for many, a welcome break for others. For some it will be the first meaningful face to face conversation they've had in memory.

P.S. As I wrote this blog in an enclosed waiting room off the larger waiting area at the dealership, a very large man entered and sat down across from me and another gentleman who was reading a book. He proceeded to continue his conversation in his very loud voice. Upon leaving the room, the gentleman reading the book looked at me and we both laughed. Then he said in a beautiful African accent, "That would not happen in Europe. Only in America are people this loud, rude and self-centered." More food for thought and conversation.

Prayers for Ike Survivors

The storm surge has long passed the Texas coastline and what's left of Hurricane Ike moved through the Midwest over the weekend. However, the battle against Ike is just beginning for Gulf Coast residents. Please pray for residents in Houston, Galveston and other Gulf Coast cities. Give blood, make a donation to the Red Cross, or collect basic need items to ship to relief agencies in the Gulf.

A disruption in the flow of gasoline from Gulf Coast refineries and price increases at our pumps seems like a small inconvenience compared to the devastating losses sustained by Ike's victims!

Yellow Ribbons Aren't Enough

A disturbing statistic was released by the Pentagon this week. Al Pessin from VOA writes:

The Army says this year's suicide total among soldiers could reach 130, out of a force of about a million and a half. That would be an increase of more than 10 percent over last year and it would bring the Army above the overall suicide rate for the United States, as adjusted to reflect the Army's demographics.

According to the Center for Disease Control's (Summer 2008 Suicide bulletin): More than 32,000 suicides occurred in the U.S. This is the equivalent of 89 suicides per day; one suicide every 16 minutes or 11.01 suicides per 100,000 population. Given those statistics the soldier suicide count is outpacing the national civilian average.

Reporter Jeff Schogel of Stars and Stripes notes that 115 soldiers took their lives in 2007, which was the highest number since the Army started keeping suicide statistics in 1980. Keep in mind these statistics are for active soldiers not veterans who have returned from war. The AP's Jennifer Kerr brought this out in a May '07 story:

WASHINGTON — In the three months after Marine Maj. John Ruocco returned from Iraq feeling numb and depressed, he couldn’t sleep. He had lost weight. He had nightmares. He was distracted and withdrawn from his two young sons.

One night, he promised his wife, Kim, that he would get help. The next morning, he was dead. The 40-year-old Cobra helicopter pilot, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., had hanged himself.

There are others. Army reservist Joshua Omvig. Army Capt. Michael Pelkey. Marines Jonathan Schulze and Jeffrey Lucey. Each came home from tours in Iraq and committed suicide.

Veterans’ groups and families who have lost loved ones say the number of troops struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental health issues is on the increase and not enough help is being provided by the Pentagon and the Veterans Affairs Department.

Nearly all suicide victims share some common feelings or behaviors before suicide. Among them: depression, despondency, profound sadness, hopelessness, and failure. More victims are male and a majority are under the influence of drugs or alcohol when they commit suicide. That is significant given a report released this summer by Naval Health Research Center that alcohol abuse is rapidly growing among veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Add in the increase of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and you have a dangerous combination.

The Pentagon and VA are instituting new measures and programs aimed at lowering the suicide rate, but more needs to be done for returning veterans. Federal, state and local mental health professionals also need help since they are usually the first line of response. The military are under exceptional pressure and stress. Stir in family, financial or marital stress and you've got a dangerous powder keg.

In this year of presidential politics, views on the war aside, it's nice to hear the leaders of both political parties pledge unwavering support for the military while stumping for votes. There is much disagreement on the war, a pullout timetable, or post-war troop levels, but there is nothing standing in the way of either party, the Congress, or the Executive Branch from doing something now! January is too late. We owe our military an incredible debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they make. Parades and yellow ribbons on cars or trees are nice, but these brave men and women deserve much more from us. Why not ask every American family living above the poverty level to voluntarily donate $100 to such a cause? Yes, we need to pray, but let's raise the bar and ask our citizens to ante up for those who've offered their lives!

Does Bigger Mean More of the Same?

There are dueling churches in our area. Not really but it sure seems like it. One mega-church is located in the largest city in our area. Another is located in the largest city in an adjacent county. Each church has launched a satellite campus in the other church's back yard. Both are offering great teaching, discipleship and worship at their respective "mother church" locations, but despite it, each apparently feels the need to pipe in their pastor's message via video in the same geographic area where the other mega-church is ministering and reaching people!

This is happening all over the country. I will resist the opportunity to challenge this approach based on the biblical model of local leadership and what I believe is the autonomy of the local church. Otherwise, I will just be dismissed as a disgruntled and jealous leader of a much smaller, okay, tiny church in comparison. This isn't about these churches and their shared approach to ministry. Again, let me say that both are great churches and both have touched more lives than our little church probably ever will for the cause of Christ. But what about a mega-church offering a different approach in an age of mega-church "sameness".

David Gibbons pastors a mega-church (NewSong) in Irvine, California. However, his missional story has given birth to indigenous ministries and churches in Dallas, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, and Bangkok! This is more than the all too famliar and tiring story of a mega-church gone multi-location trying to recreate the culture and worship of the "mother" church/campus via video feeds. Keep in mind that Gibbons' missional approach was started long before missional became the latest buzzword in church leadership circles.

Gibbons was recently interviewed by Leadership Journal, a ministry trade publication produced by Christianity Today. Pastor Gibbons was already leading a church with four locations when God challenged his approach and multi-campus theology while he was in Bangkok. From the LJ interview:

(Gibbons) I saw four churches with 4,000 people versus 400 churches with the same number of people, and the question I felt God posing to me is, Who's stronger?

(LJ)So who is stronger?

(Gibbons) The four hundred churches. You could knock any one of them out, and the rest would keep going. So much of our default protocol is centralized and built around one leader.

You can read the full Leadership Journal interview here, just click on: LJ

Okay multi-location, mega-church types please don't get defensive and write an apologetic of multi-campus theology. Who would've thought going smaller means growth? It is the exact opposite of the Western mega-church model. Remember, this guy leads a mega-church too:

(Gibbons on the Bangkok approach) Smaller units. Decentralized. We ended up creating smaller units all over the city. People don't like to drive in Bangkok—it's too difficult to get across the city. So we created what we call undergrounds. They can meet in cafes, restaurants, academic buildings. They meet everywhere.

And to tell you the truth, if we had gone the megachurch direction, it would have required huge resources. Instead, now after two years, they're self-sustaining, meeting in cafes, clubs, restaurants, and homes.

(LJ)When you do church this way, it means handing off leadership into smaller groups. Do you worry about a loss of control and uneven quality?

(Gibbons) No. This is how real movements of God start. Bigness can slow you down. There's nothing wrong with bigness, by the way. I've seen beautiful whales in the ocean, man. I've seen them dance and splash in the water. Those are miraculous moments. They're magnificent creatures. But the truth is there aren't a lot of whales. But there are millions maybe billions of minnows. I like both big and small. But assuming big is better can hurt us, especially if we consider cultures, cities, and God's focus on the weak and the fringe of culture.

I don't think bigness is going to fit most people or most cultural contexts where the church needs to grow.

Local and indigenous leadership seems to be a biblical model. The New Testament Church centered around the mother church in Jerusalem, but notice how the Apostle Paul employed local leadership (elders, etc.) in the churches he started. Perhaps it's time we, like Paul, learned to trust and value indigenous leadership without feeling the need to control or manage it, or worse yet, produce church clones.