My first full-time position in ministry was as a youth pastor in Indiana. It was a great church and a great bunch of people. Even though I didn't know what I was doing, God came through and accomplished a lot of good stuff. One regret I have, however, is my handling of a ministry culture issue. What the heck is that, you say? A ministry culture is like the spiritual and emotional atmosphere of a group. After being there for four years we had developed a pretty tight and focused core of students and leaders. The ministry itself had a good and healthy Jesus-centered focus and some good ministry was happening. But something was wrong. I could feel it. Even though things looked OK, the truth was that from the top down something was broken and was poisoning what Jesus wanted to accomplish there. Worse yet? It was my fault.
What was it? Hidden sexual sin? Nope. (though I'm sure there was some of that... #TEENS) Unethical handling of finances? Nope. Then what? Ready?
SARCASM
Ya, that's right. Sarcasm. "What the what?!" you might say. "How could sarcasm prevent God from moving as He would wish?" At the core, any group is a community of individuals relating one to another. For a variety of reasons I used, allowed and encouraged sarcasm in our communication with each other and it came to the point where it actually became cutting and venomous. We could all say the meanest of things to each other and then afterward add two small words as if it negated the damage we had just caused. "Just Kidding" was the magic words that allowed us to say whatever we wanted. There was no speaking of life and encouraging one another as a norm. I opened the door and the kids ran with it. Even though we genuinely loved each other, we had become fools. Proverbs 26:18-19 says
Why am I writing this? I am concerned about what I see in the church culture today. The current focus of my concern is the site Babylonbee. If you are a Facebooker, you have probably seen some of the stories. Listen, most of the articles are funny and I think it is totally appropriate for us to laugh at ourselves from time to time. Sarcasm in general is also fine and can be a useful tool in communication, but what I see a lot of these days is the mocking sarcasm that is then labeled as "Satire." In other words, mocking and then the proverbial "Just Kidding" tagged on the end. This whole satire thing is out of control. People use it to malign and mock whoever they disagree with, but it's ok...because it's funny. I see it from Christians who disagree with other Christians over things like doctrinal points, ministry style, size of a person's church, etc. It's ugly and it needs to stop. It's a terrible witness and is the antithesis of John 13:35. James 3:6 warns:
The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
I know. I'm a giant killjoy. But please run your speech through the filter of Scripture; especially the call to maturity in James 3:1-12. Helpful questions:
"Am I building up or tearing down?"
"Is this harmless sarcasm or am I mocking?"
"Am I echoing Jesus or demonic scoffing?"
Scripture (2 Peter 3:3) warns that in the last days there will be mockers and scoffers. Walk with wisdom in these times. Be different.
Monday, August 15, 2016
Monday, June 27, 2016
Is Pastor Talking About ME?!?!
So maybe you've been in church at various points and as the pastor is preaching all of a sudden they are using an illustration that feels like they are reading your mail to the rest of the church. "Is he talking about me?!?...Did someone tell him??" Or maybe even worse, it sounds like he is saying something that you confided in him about previously. Through the years I have had people come up to me after services with a variety of emotional responses because of this. To be honest some have been quite angry at me! But what is the truth? *IS* the pastor talking about YOU??
Before I answer, let me say this: I always go to church with an open heart and with "ears to hear" as Jesus says in the Gospels. I hunger to hear His voice and as such when I am listening to another pastor speak I am listening for the Spirit's voice to communicate to me. I would hope that all of you are placing yourselves in a similar posture to hear and obey.
The answer to the question in about 95% of cases (did you know that 87.56467% of statistics are made up???) is, "No. The pastor is not talking about you" nor is he referring to what you shared with him in private. Every man and woman of God that I know spends many hours in prayer and preparation before standing behind the pulpit to share what we all hope and pray is God's message to His people in that moment. That's not to say that different situations and conversations with people don't spark something that will be a driving force behind a Sunday morning message. Keep in mind that the majority of the New Testament, which is God's Word to us today, is actually letters written to specific people about specific situations in their lives or in the church. Those communications covered everything from disciplining people to commending them and through them God is still speaking to us today. I once had a lady get so offended because I wrote a blog about an issue that she had brought up to me in conversation. It sparked something in me that I felt needed to be addressed on a larger level to other people. Though I never mentioned that conversation or the person in the blog, she soon left the church. ( #BaitOfSatan )
The bottom line is that the vast majority of times, it is simply the Holy Spirit talking to you because you have rightly placed yourself in an environment where it is easier than normal for Him to to do so. And you should not only respond accordingly, but be grateful that He is speaking to you and leading you in your growth. If it happens that the pastor is using your conversation or situation within a sermon because the Lord sparked something within them that He wants spoken to the Whole, then be even more thankful.
Before I answer, let me say this: I always go to church with an open heart and with "ears to hear" as Jesus says in the Gospels. I hunger to hear His voice and as such when I am listening to another pastor speak I am listening for the Spirit's voice to communicate to me. I would hope that all of you are placing yourselves in a similar posture to hear and obey.
The answer to the question in about 95% of cases (did you know that 87.56467% of statistics are made up???) is, "No. The pastor is not talking about you" nor is he referring to what you shared with him in private. Every man and woman of God that I know spends many hours in prayer and preparation before standing behind the pulpit to share what we all hope and pray is God's message to His people in that moment. That's not to say that different situations and conversations with people don't spark something that will be a driving force behind a Sunday morning message. Keep in mind that the majority of the New Testament, which is God's Word to us today, is actually letters written to specific people about specific situations in their lives or in the church. Those communications covered everything from disciplining people to commending them and through them God is still speaking to us today. I once had a lady get so offended because I wrote a blog about an issue that she had brought up to me in conversation. It sparked something in me that I felt needed to be addressed on a larger level to other people. Though I never mentioned that conversation or the person in the blog, she soon left the church. ( #BaitOfSatan )
The bottom line is that the vast majority of times, it is simply the Holy Spirit talking to you because you have rightly placed yourself in an environment where it is easier than normal for Him to to do so. And you should not only respond accordingly, but be grateful that He is speaking to you and leading you in your growth. If it happens that the pastor is using your conversation or situation within a sermon because the Lord sparked something within them that He wants spoken to the Whole, then be even more thankful.
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