“In the essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love”.
- Augustine
I write today from a heart that hurts for my church family. We are going through some things right now that I think, for the most part, all churches go through at one time or another. There is some disagreements among our members and it is causing a lot of pain, suffering, and agitation. There are hidden agendas and not so hidden ones that are breaking apart what should be a strong and binding chord, our congregation.
Personally, I am not privy to everything that is boiling beneath the surface of this storm. What I do know, I don't feel the need to elaborate on as it really does no good in light of what I'd really like to say instead. I will simply focus on one of the issues brought forward and share my opinion on that. People in our church are hurting. Some come from a place of bitterness and some come from a place of disbelief in what is going on around them. Some have been utterly clueless and some have been drug in kicking and screaming. Some are surprised and others knew this was coming, maybe even had a hand in its creation, a long time before the problems were ever brought to light. I fit in the category who never saw it coming. I've been a member at our church, technically, for a year and 6 months. The first six months of my membership, my husband and I fell in love with the body of people there and their pastor. My family attends there also and that made the experience all the more enjoyable for us as a couple.
Then, we found out that my husband, Robert, was being relocated to Nashville, TN for his job. While in Nashville, we attempted, although admittedly it was half-heartedly, to find another church we could belong to. We visited a few but could never find one that we really felt drawn to. After a while we simply stopped looking. After a year spent in Nashville, we are back in Alabama and, thankfully, back at the wonderful church we had been made to leave due to the move. When I realized we'd be able to once again attend, I was thrilled. I had realized that the thing lacking in the Nashville churches we'd attended, was life! A real vitality and motivation to do what God had called them. Now, I only attended a few so don't judge them, but I really can't say I'd been called to any of them. I never felt drawn to them as I had with the church we'd left. As soon as we got back we had lunch with the pastor and his wife and were immediately plugged back in. I was asked to start a new Deaf ministry, a chance to reach out to some members who attended but had no interpreter. I was thrilled that Pastor had seen the need and seen fit to meet it or find someone who could. He was also working on the two services they held, trying to meet the needs of the older and younger generations; a sort of traditional first service and a more contemporary second service. He hoped this would help reach others who may not have liked the loud music, contemporary choruses, or stage lights. I applauded this insight into our culture and whole-heartedly agreed it was needed.
When we really got into a routine of going to church, we started learning and hearing things...grumblings from some who were not content with the direction the church seemed to be taking. I didn't understand what the big deal was. I felt that the pastor was taking outreach seriously and the numbers were obviously reflecting that. What was the problem? It came out one Wednesday night in a storm of emotion and anger. I was surprised and flabbergasted at such blatant disrespect of the office of pastor. I won't detail what all the issues were but I will speak to one. It seems there is a tremendous concern about our pastors' beliefs concerning Calvinism. Isn't there always some sort of controversy where that subject is concerned? I would say yes...without a doubt. The point of concern was how many points of the acronym "T.u.l.i.p" did the pastor agree with? In case you are unaware, "T.u.l.i.p" refers to the five points known as the basis for the Calvinistic belief system (though of course I am no expert):
* Total Depravity
* Unconditional Election (predestination)* Limited Atonement* Irresistible Grace* Perseverance of the Saints
Turns out, some people in the congregation feel that this is a deal breaker. What our pastor believes concerning these five points is of utmost importance according to some (though I do not believe this is the case for the majority). These issues and "concerns" were brought up this past Wednesday at the regular Q&A session our pastor holds on occasion. I knew that these issues would be brought up. I knew that they would be discussed thouroughly and would not be dropped. However, I was completely unaware that this Q&A session was going to be, not an informative session at all, but a witch hunt and little else. I was appalled to see the behavior of some members and the disrespect that was thrown at our pastor. I am all for having an open forum and I am all for the right to ask questions and disagree when the need is there. I do not, nor under any circumstances would I ever, be for the horrid treatment that was bestowed upon our God-given leader this past Wednesday night. Was there yelling? No. Were there raised voices? Some. Were names called? Yes, albeit subtly. Questions were flung at him regarding whether or not he thought he was still fit to pastor our church because of his beliefs on these five points. Are we serious right now? Because the man may or may not believe in predestination we're going to slaughter him this way?
The truth of the matter is this: most Southern Baptists subscribe to at least one or more of these points. The Umbrella of the title "Southern Baptist" is so broad that it houses those who are one point to those who are four or five pointers. I will not go into what I believe about any of these points because, truly, that's not the point of my blog post today. In fact, it's almost the opposite. I could care less about these five points if I were being honest. I don't think they matter in light of eternity. I don't believe they are worth all out war in the middle of a church service! Anyone who disagrees with that is entitled to their opinion but I do not share it. I don't know who we think we are sometimes, but I feel like its all gone too far. I say this with the understanding that, in every other regard, our pastor has proven himself worthy and chosen by God to lead this congregation. He is beyond reproof when it comes to his own walk with Christ and with the way he shares the gospel. He preaches that Gospel in its entirety, leaving nothing out. So, the only basis upon which he is being judged (and found wanting by some), is his stance on predestination? We go too far.
If we, as the body of Christ, trust him to preach a true gospel, trust him to win souls and represent us and teach us, what do we care if he believes in predestination? In light of everything else, I feel this is a trivial matter; a splitting of hairs when there is no need. Now, that isn't to say that if his belief kept him from doing the Lord's work, saying there is no need to spread the gospel because God has already "predetermined" who will and will not be saved, that that would be acceptable...because it would in no way be so. But he isn't doing that. His stance is such that, even knowing God has predetermined who will be saved, he's not God and he would never presume to know who those "chosen" are and thus he must continue to preach it. So why are we so outraged? Why are we seeking to have him burned on stake? My only question to pastor was this (which I indeed stood up to ask): "Are you going to preach the true gospel or not?" To which he responded, "I will. If I don't do it here, I will do it out there." And again, my response was "Then it doesn't matter to me what you believe about predestination. Keep winning souls."
Why can it not be that simple? Why can we not stop being so hateful concerning issues that are not going to determine whether or not we get into heaven? As long as he's preaching what will get us there, why are we being divisive? It's not WORTH it! Can we just go back to being about the work of the Lord? Isn't that what we should be focused on? I'm tired of people being so utterly consumed with being in control, committees who don't know their place (as servants to aid the pastor in leading, not ACTUALLY leading), of pettiness that ruins communion with the whole body of Christ...it's stupid and not worth it. If you want to discuss it then fine. Do it. But do it with respect. Do it with an open heart. Do it in such a way that allows for discussion and not argument. Do it privately with the one whom it concerns. Don't stand publicly on your soapbox just so everyone can hear the sound of your voice.
James 4:11-12 says this:
"Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only ONE Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?"
"Spirit Wind" Casting Crowns
