Learning From A Failed Leadership Decision

We have had an eventful week in Christianity! I know that I am a small fish in a big sea, and my thoughts are not widely read, but they have been swimming in my mind over the past few days and I hope they can be an encouragement to you.

One week ago, World Vision US, adopted a policy that allowed legally married same sex couples to be employed by their ministry. Not surprisingly, the LGBT community cheered, some denominations (mostly those who hold a very loose interpretation of scripture, or do not hold it to be authoritative) also cheered. At the same time most of evangelical supporters of WV saw it for what it was, an abandoning of Scripture. This decision really didn't surprise me, I figured at some point, some board would go this route, I just didn't know who. WV was the first to test the waters. But it isn't the decision that I want to really focus on, they reversed course just 24-48 hours later, I want to look at the statements, process, and how that applies to us.

First, let’s look at part of the statement as they introduced what they were about to do. Notice how they want to know that they have a board full of wise people in high places and they have spent a great deal of time praying over this issue.

“By way of background, our board of directors is recognized as one of the leaders among Christian organizations in the U.S. It includes deeply spiritual and wise believers, among them several pastors, a seminary president, and a professor of theology. Since this policy change involves the sensitive issue of human sexuality, the board spent several years praying about and discussing this issue”

Second, they want to be sure that you know they aren't compromising:

“I want to reassure you that we are not sliding down some slippery slope of compromise, nor are we diminishing the authority of Scripture in our work. We have always affirmed traditional marriage as a God-ordained institution. Nothing in our work around the world with children and families will change. We are the same World Vision you have always believed in.”

Third, this is a quote from the recanting of the new position back to the old one:

“We are brokenhearted over the pain and confusion we have caused many of our friends, who saw this decision as a reversal of our strong commitment to Biblical authority. We ask that you understand that this was never the board's intent. We are asking for your continued support. We commit to you that we will continue to listen to the wise counsel of Christian brothers and sisters, and we will reach out to key partners in the weeks ahead.”

Here is where I think we can learn from WV. 

First, wisdom doesn't come from having a board of really important people. 

Second, the will of God never violates the Word of God (spend more time reading the Word). 

Third, just because someone says they are not compromising doesn't they aren't. 

Fourth, if you change, be big enough to admit it. 

Fifth, realize when you abandon Scripture, the true church will be offended. 

Sixth, realize that you can’t please the world, you were created to please God, so do that instead!

To Lent or Not to Lent!

Lent this year is March 5^th- April 17^th. I have read several articles from both sides of the arguments as to whether or not one should participate in Lent. This year I decided to take the plunge. Lent is basically a chance to give up something for a selected period of time in order to achieve some goal. Some use this event purely as a chance to discipline themselves, others as a chance to give up something in order benefit their health or fitness. In a religious context it can be used to give up something in order to be less distracted, spend more time reading the Bible, in prayer, etc.

I have always been told by every coach that I ever played for “go big, or go home.” So for Lent this year I decided I would go big, I gave up dieting. To say it has been a struggle would be an understatement. At times I wake in the middle of the night, my mind and body screaming for a dry salad without cheese or croutons. Over the past few weeks I have found I can drown those screams out with a doughnut, sometimes it takes two.

I am grateful for those around me who have been willing to keep me accountable, I am sure that I couldn't do this alone. While going through the drive through at Burger King I almost ordered the SatisFries in a moment of weakness, realizing how close I was to failure, I redoubled my efforts, skipped the fries and had a double whopper with cheese.

As I write this post, I am not looking for applause, I haven’t finished yet, I still have a few LONG weeks to go. But I am confident that I can make this work and if I do, for Lent next year I am thinking about giving up turn signals!

The Gospel is better than Technology and Celebrities!

The Gospel is better than Technology and Celebrities!

Over the past few weeks we have seen much discussion over God and Hollywood. There was the release of the new Movie “Son of God” and Matt McConaughey thanking God in his Oscars acceptance speech. It seems to me that maybe we are missing the big picture in both of these instances.

American Christianity seems desperate for a celebrity to make serving, loving and obeying God cool. We want writers, pastors, actors, musicians, etc. to become popular enough that the mainstream world will accept them, and by default accept Christianity. If the church today is waiting on the world’s approval, maybe it is time we wake up and realize that it isn't coming.

I am not really a huge fan of movies based on the Bible, mainly because I study the Bible (I am a Christian and a Pastor) and it drives me crazy when they get the story wrong (full disclosure: it makes me just as crazy when they do this to other books as well). Did the script writer intentionally skip a detail, or was that detail too hard to film or convey? In most Christian movies, I am usually left asking, "What happened to the Gospel?" 

I hear several arguments that about Christian films that go along the lines of “we just want to get the conversation started.” We should be looking for ways to get people talking about the Gospel, but I am not convinced that watching a movie that messes up the biblical narrative and makes Jesus this wimpy, emotional character helps the discussion. After people watch these movies and they come to church, how much to do we have to un-teach about the Bible (this is assuming the church they attended afterward even preaches the Bible)?

I don’t want to fault Matt McConaughey for talking about God in his acceptance speech, I have no idea what he knows about God and the Bible, and who knows where his heart is. But I do want to take to task some of the Christians that came out afterward all fired up that we got a Christian in Hollywood. I would rather someone thank God than not mention Him at all, but thanking God and living for God are two vastly different things. In a world where we are desperate for celebrities to endorse us, maybe we should teach our kids who our real heroes should be. Men like Hudson Taylor, Jim Elliot, David Brainerd, Charles Spurgeon and John Calvin. Read about some people who believed the Word of God and not only was their life changed, but so were the lives of the world around them. Sadly, most Christians today don’t have spiritual heroes and neither do their kids.

In a world where people rely on technology and celebrity endorsements to complete their lives, Christians should be cutting against the grain and putting all our emphasis on the Gospel. After all isn't the Gospel better than them both?