I am a fan of Twitter. It's a neat way to get succinct information from people that interest you or from your friends. I like Facebook for the more in-depth communication and sharing that it allows with people you love and that love you. The danger, especially with Twitter, is that you have a limited number of characters to get your point across. I've seen a few quotes or snippets that make me go, "Oh my goodness" - and not in a good way. I had that experience this morning. I saw a retweet from Crossway books that contained one line from a blog post called Worship Distorted by Bill Clem of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA, that made me say "Oh my goodness" - not in a good way.
First I need to say that I like Bill Clem. I've heard some of his teaching and read other blogs that are good and spot on. I'm not saying that this blog isn't good either. I'm going to specifically talk about one line and my concerns.
The quote in question is, "One hundred percent of your pastoral counseling will involve identifying and confronting idols." To be fair, there is only a small portion of the book from which this came posted and it's specifically addressing the character of God. My fear? That single line will be re-tweeted and pastors without a solid understanding of counseling will use it and harm their sheep.
I get really nervous about pastoral counseling resources that advocate "confronting sin" out of context (and again, I'm NOT saying this one does - I haven't read it so I can't comment on that book specifically). It is important to address areas of sin in a counseling situation, but there is way more to counseling than confronting "sin and idols." And even when sin needs to be addressed there are a myriad of ways to do so that aren't outright confrontation.
I have seen far too many pastors take the concept of "confronting sin" and use it to harm their flock. They berate people, shame them, and generally beat them down in an effort to get some sort of behavioral change. If sin is a heart issue - and the Bible clearly says that it is - then shaming someone into behavioral change is inefficient at best and downright harmful at worst. Even if behavioral change can be achieved through shame and guilt, the heart is still the problem and that heart issue will manifest itself in another way. For example, an alcoholic may be shamed into giving up booze; however, he/she may adopt another addiction, such as food, to provide the same temporary comfort. The exterior behavior is more socially acceptable, but the heart is just as broken.
Good biblical counselors don't overlook sin at all - but they also don't attack the person they are counseling. They don't use shame or manipulation to achieve behavioral change. The first thing they do is provide grace - through providing a safe place where the counselee can be him/herself and be messy. Good biblical counselors work to establish a grace-filled relationship with the counselee before any sort of confrontation is made. Ironically, confrontation may prove to be wholly unnecessary as the counseling process takes place. In fact, counselees may identify and repent of the sin as God uses the counseling process to effect change. When confrontation is appropriate, the good biblical counselor knows how to do so using the most appropriate technique - which may or may not be direct.
Pastors would do well to take a good counseling course or two to learn more about the actual process of counseling. There is so much more to it than telling a church member what he/she needs to do or pointing out areas of sin (although those things are valid and have an appropriate place). Pastors who engage in counseling relationships would be quite wise to be well-grounded in solid counseling technique in addition to solid gospel theology. True biblical counseling should include both a solid theology and a solid counseling methodology.
In summary, I have no disagreement with the statement that pastoral counseling has a lot to do with dealing with idolatry; however, pastors really need to know what appropriate and grace-centered counseling looks like and not just be - as I've heard said out loud by pastors - "fruit inspectors." Above all the Holy Spirit needs to be in control of the whole thing since He is the true Counselor and we are but instruments to be used for God's glory in the counseling process.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
The Artist and the Masterpiece
What makes art a masterpiece? According to a 2009 article in the Star Tribune, that is not an easy question to answer. When The Louvre queried their curators on the topic, many different criteria were offered - "superlative craftsmanship, extraordinary design, great antiquity, rich materials, purity of form, artistic genius, originality, influence on other artists." I would also like to offer up that who the artist is makes a difference.
I was recently at the North Carolina Museum of Art and had the pleasure of touring the Rembrandt exhibit. While the paintings all had titles - "Man in a Hat" or "Man Praying" for example - all were defined as "Rembrandts." They were deemed valuable because of who the artist was. As I stood there in the exhibit hall and looked at painting after painting, I thought about what a friend had said to me recently. He had told me that art points to the artist. As I stood there in the museum, looking at Rembrandt after Rembrandt - despite whatever they were titled - I realized we were all considering the artist and the work he had done.
As I thought about other exhibits I've seen there - Monet, Rockwell - I realized they were all titled by the name of the artist. Each artist had a unique style. Monet was fairly upbeat in composition, with lots of bright colors. Rockwell captured American life, including some of its darkness. While they are held up as iconic and vestiges of a simpler time, to look at them closely told another tale entirely. There was depth of emotion and his Santas were utterly disturbing when you looked closely. Rembrandt was just dark in general - partly because of the subject matter, partly because some of the paintings were on oak, which lent to a darker coloring. Each was distinct and you could line up a piece from each and easily identify the artist.
Interestingly, God is portrayed as an artist and creation - including humans - as His artwork. In fact, humans are portrayed as God's masterpiece. In Isaiah 64:8 God is referred to as a potter and to man as the "work of [His] hand." Ephesians 2:10 refers to us as God's "workmanship." The word used is poiema - the word from which we get poem. It is, in essence, stating that we are living poetry.
Looking at how the curators of the Louvre defined the qualities in a masterpiece, I think human beings fit the bill. Superlative craftsmanship, extraordinary design, rich materials, purity of form, artistic genius, originality - nothing compares to humans in all of creation. How our bodies function is nothing short of amazing, and when you add to it the ability to think and feel and the complexity of human nature I'm in awe. Many people, not just Christians, would agree that human beings are nothing short of a masterpiece.
Here is where it gets interesting for me. I absolutely believe that God's creation, and humans in particular, are astounding works of art. I absolutely believe that God is the greatest artist of all time. I believe that people are incredibly valuable - both to God and to me. I believe that all of creation points to the Creator (Romans 1:20). I believe God's work should be celebrated and enjoyed. What I do not believe is that I am a masterpiece, that I have great value, and that the Artist has created me to be enjoyed and give Him glory.
Oh, I know this logically of course and I thoroughly believe the Bible. However, when it comes down to brass tacks, I believe it for everyone else - and for them I believe it to the very core of my being and would absolutely fight for them should anyone say differently. When it comes to me, I see a very different picture.
Why do I suppose that is? I think it's because I can see all my flaws, every imperfection. I think society has been quite good at helping me see things that don't measure up to its standards - from my figure, to my hair, and on and on. When I add to that my sin nature and how I know I do things wrong - sometimes very much on purpose simply because I want to - and the fact that I have a perfectionist nature, I can't see past me.
I am absolutely surrounded by the most incredible people. I have a community of people who truly love me. Until recently I had attributed that love to God's goodness in them - God placing in their hearts the ability to love me - and not even considering that they love me because I am loveable and there are good things about me. God, who is incredibly gracious, is working to change that in me. Through a friend, He has really challenged my thinking on me.
I also don't think I'm the only Christian that struggles with believing for themselves that they are a masterpiece. A couple weeks ago in my community group the guy leading it asked a question that people struggled to answer. He essentially said, "What in your life glorifies God? We all can talk about all our faults, but what in your life is good and gives glory to God?" There were 11 people there and it was a huge struggle for individuals to answer that question. We were all so much more able to point out our weaknesses and when the time came for that question, there was no shortage of conversation. As I sat there, looking around the faces of people who are incredible, I realized that I could rattle of numerous things about each of them that I thought were glorifying to God.
If it is okay to rejoice in the beauty and artistry of a painting or sculpture or good meal, why is it not okay to celebrate the artistry in ourselves, put there by the Master Artist? His work is beautiful and good - He Himself is beautiful and good. We delight in God's work in our friends. We don't delight in God's work in our lives and we are incredibly afraid to even acknowledge it lest we sound prideful (or worse actually become prideful). But that isn't a full picture of God's grace. God's grace is that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
There is, of course, an appropriate place to identify, grieve about and repent of sin. I'm pretty good at that one - not always the grieving and repentance part, but most definitely the identification part. I'm not good at celebrating the beauty part - or even really believing the beauty is there. For me, this isn't an easy answer. I've been told by those who love me that there is real beauty there and I've been given lists of what the beauty might look like. Unfortunately, I still have trouble seeing past the negative and celebrating in the positive.
I don't know what it will take for God to set me free from this, but I'm quite confident that He wouldn't show me without the plan to do something. He is, after all, faithful to complete the work (Philippians 1:6). And it is His work - "for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). I know that I want Him to complete the work so I can take the people I love and see God's masterful artistry in by the hand and point them toward this truth.
I was recently at the North Carolina Museum of Art and had the pleasure of touring the Rembrandt exhibit. While the paintings all had titles - "Man in a Hat" or "Man Praying" for example - all were defined as "Rembrandts." They were deemed valuable because of who the artist was. As I stood there in the exhibit hall and looked at painting after painting, I thought about what a friend had said to me recently. He had told me that art points to the artist. As I stood there in the museum, looking at Rembrandt after Rembrandt - despite whatever they were titled - I realized we were all considering the artist and the work he had done.
As I thought about other exhibits I've seen there - Monet, Rockwell - I realized they were all titled by the name of the artist. Each artist had a unique style. Monet was fairly upbeat in composition, with lots of bright colors. Rockwell captured American life, including some of its darkness. While they are held up as iconic and vestiges of a simpler time, to look at them closely told another tale entirely. There was depth of emotion and his Santas were utterly disturbing when you looked closely. Rembrandt was just dark in general - partly because of the subject matter, partly because some of the paintings were on oak, which lent to a darker coloring. Each was distinct and you could line up a piece from each and easily identify the artist.
Interestingly, God is portrayed as an artist and creation - including humans - as His artwork. In fact, humans are portrayed as God's masterpiece. In Isaiah 64:8 God is referred to as a potter and to man as the "work of [His] hand." Ephesians 2:10 refers to us as God's "workmanship." The word used is poiema - the word from which we get poem. It is, in essence, stating that we are living poetry.
Looking at how the curators of the Louvre defined the qualities in a masterpiece, I think human beings fit the bill. Superlative craftsmanship, extraordinary design, rich materials, purity of form, artistic genius, originality - nothing compares to humans in all of creation. How our bodies function is nothing short of amazing, and when you add to it the ability to think and feel and the complexity of human nature I'm in awe. Many people, not just Christians, would agree that human beings are nothing short of a masterpiece.
Here is where it gets interesting for me. I absolutely believe that God's creation, and humans in particular, are astounding works of art. I absolutely believe that God is the greatest artist of all time. I believe that people are incredibly valuable - both to God and to me. I believe that all of creation points to the Creator (Romans 1:20). I believe God's work should be celebrated and enjoyed. What I do not believe is that I am a masterpiece, that I have great value, and that the Artist has created me to be enjoyed and give Him glory.
Oh, I know this logically of course and I thoroughly believe the Bible. However, when it comes down to brass tacks, I believe it for everyone else - and for them I believe it to the very core of my being and would absolutely fight for them should anyone say differently. When it comes to me, I see a very different picture.
Why do I suppose that is? I think it's because I can see all my flaws, every imperfection. I think society has been quite good at helping me see things that don't measure up to its standards - from my figure, to my hair, and on and on. When I add to that my sin nature and how I know I do things wrong - sometimes very much on purpose simply because I want to - and the fact that I have a perfectionist nature, I can't see past me.
I am absolutely surrounded by the most incredible people. I have a community of people who truly love me. Until recently I had attributed that love to God's goodness in them - God placing in their hearts the ability to love me - and not even considering that they love me because I am loveable and there are good things about me. God, who is incredibly gracious, is working to change that in me. Through a friend, He has really challenged my thinking on me.
I also don't think I'm the only Christian that struggles with believing for themselves that they are a masterpiece. A couple weeks ago in my community group the guy leading it asked a question that people struggled to answer. He essentially said, "What in your life glorifies God? We all can talk about all our faults, but what in your life is good and gives glory to God?" There were 11 people there and it was a huge struggle for individuals to answer that question. We were all so much more able to point out our weaknesses and when the time came for that question, there was no shortage of conversation. As I sat there, looking around the faces of people who are incredible, I realized that I could rattle of numerous things about each of them that I thought were glorifying to God.
If it is okay to rejoice in the beauty and artistry of a painting or sculpture or good meal, why is it not okay to celebrate the artistry in ourselves, put there by the Master Artist? His work is beautiful and good - He Himself is beautiful and good. We delight in God's work in our friends. We don't delight in God's work in our lives and we are incredibly afraid to even acknowledge it lest we sound prideful (or worse actually become prideful). But that isn't a full picture of God's grace. God's grace is that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
There is, of course, an appropriate place to identify, grieve about and repent of sin. I'm pretty good at that one - not always the grieving and repentance part, but most definitely the identification part. I'm not good at celebrating the beauty part - or even really believing the beauty is there. For me, this isn't an easy answer. I've been told by those who love me that there is real beauty there and I've been given lists of what the beauty might look like. Unfortunately, I still have trouble seeing past the negative and celebrating in the positive.
I don't know what it will take for God to set me free from this, but I'm quite confident that He wouldn't show me without the plan to do something. He is, after all, faithful to complete the work (Philippians 1:6). And it is His work - "for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). I know that I want Him to complete the work so I can take the people I love and see God's masterful artistry in by the hand and point them toward this truth.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
On the Job (Ministry) Training
So in the last blog I wrote about what my job has taught me about Christ and how it points me to the gospel. Today's topic - how my job has prepared me for ministry. There, all my cards are out on the table. You know where I'm going.
This blog was prompted by a particularly painful conference call. I had to be the bad guy and say some things that were way less than popular. Honestly, that's the life of QA. People love you when you swoop in to fix some problem (that they knew about, yet failed to tell you) and hate you when you tell them the process they love isn't working. I'm not sure I've ever been in between. I either have folks telling me they love me and buying me plants or telling me they hate me and that I can't possibly understand what they're going through.
Sounds like the life of someone in vocational ministry, no?
I know many pastors and pastor's wives and other ministry leaders who would describe their lives exactly that way. When the pastor steps in during a crisis and is able to, by the grace of God, be helpful, he is lauded and loved. When a pastor's wife is able to hear something in a counseling session and hone in on the heart of the matter, by wisdom from the Holy Spirit, and God uses it to open the counselee's eyes and heart to the truth she is loved and respected. Conversely, when a pastor speaks a hard truth that some in the congregation don't like, he is vilified (or gossiped about). When a pastor's wife won't be your best friend because to do so would be unhealthy for you because you are trying to get a need met that should only be met by Jesus, she is scorned and said to be "cold."
The first time I encountered conflict as part of my job I was nearly undone. I didn't expect the attack to be quite as vicious and certainly not personal. It went a little something like this - I find a discrepancy. The response I got was something like, "How dare some person - a 24-year-old person at that - say that something isn't correct? Doesn't she know what it's like to perform this function? Clearly she is an idiot." My thought (that I quickly learned to never say out loud in a high stress situation) - "This is business, right? I'm just telling you what the regulatory requirement is and where your documentation was missing some elements (or missing all together). Let's just fix it and move on." I was blown away. Then, after a particularly contentious project was completed, the department we were helping gave me a plant. I actually checked it to make sure it wasn't ticking because I thought they might be out to get me.
The two scenarios - vocational ministry and QA auditor don't sound dissimilar do they? Simultaneously loved and hated. I've been at this job for awhile now (closing in on 12 years) and I've been serving in various ministry capacities about as long. I've seen God grow me in my ability to minister effectively through teaching me in very real on-the-job training. Don't misunderstand, any capacity I have for effective ministry is from Jesus Christ Himself. What I'm saying is that He has used my job to grow and change me and teach me how to deal with people.
My automatic default, my propensity, is to be a people pleaser. Had it not been for my job I'm pretty convinced that may never have been broken (and yes I know that God can do whatever He chooses, but He used this). I still struggle with it, but not like I did when I was in my early 20s. I'm much more comfortable now with relational conflict. I'm much more comfortable with hearing people and not thinking I have all the answers or I need to pretend to have all the answers so people will think I'm smart or whatever. I can walk forward, do what needs to be done, treat others well as we do it, and not take that hateful e-mail you just sent after that brutal teleconference personally. I can look at it from your perspective, search my motives (with God's assistance), and decide if I need to do something differently or work through something with you.
In this regard, what makes me good at my job makes me effective in ministry. It's much more challenging to get me to take something personally in a ministry setting than it would have been 12 years ago. I'm not saying that personal attacks don't hurt, they do, but I'm learning more and more to not take them personally. I'm not going to say that I get this right all the time because I don't, but I'm far better off than I was because God has given me amazing experiences through my job that prepared me well for sitting with people and walking through the muck and mire with them. Even when it means I'm going to take a couple shots in the process.
So if you're asking yourself, "What is her point?" I'll tell you. I don't view a divide between what I do for my profession and what I do in ministry - the secular and the sacred. It's all sacred because God goes with me where I go. Not only do I get to be a representative of Christ in my workplace, I also get to be refined by Christ through my workplace.
One day I may end up in vocational ministry, but even without that I'm still in ministry. Let's consider Romans 8:28 for a moment. God does work all things together for good for those who are called according to His purpose. We apply that verse to tragedy and crisis - as well we should - but it also applies to my LIFE. The whole thing. And God works all things including my job for good - both to bless those with whom I work and to refine me. My job is as sacred as the ministries in which I'm involved. The people here are no less precious to my Creator than those in my church. I'm just much better prepared to deal with both because of the work God has done in me through my vocation.
I would challenge all of us to take a look at the job we perform and ask God what He can show you about Himself and how He has used it to refine you. You might well be surprised at what you find.
This blog was prompted by a particularly painful conference call. I had to be the bad guy and say some things that were way less than popular. Honestly, that's the life of QA. People love you when you swoop in to fix some problem (that they knew about, yet failed to tell you) and hate you when you tell them the process they love isn't working. I'm not sure I've ever been in between. I either have folks telling me they love me and buying me plants or telling me they hate me and that I can't possibly understand what they're going through.
Sounds like the life of someone in vocational ministry, no?
I know many pastors and pastor's wives and other ministry leaders who would describe their lives exactly that way. When the pastor steps in during a crisis and is able to, by the grace of God, be helpful, he is lauded and loved. When a pastor's wife is able to hear something in a counseling session and hone in on the heart of the matter, by wisdom from the Holy Spirit, and God uses it to open the counselee's eyes and heart to the truth she is loved and respected. Conversely, when a pastor speaks a hard truth that some in the congregation don't like, he is vilified (or gossiped about). When a pastor's wife won't be your best friend because to do so would be unhealthy for you because you are trying to get a need met that should only be met by Jesus, she is scorned and said to be "cold."
The first time I encountered conflict as part of my job I was nearly undone. I didn't expect the attack to be quite as vicious and certainly not personal. It went a little something like this - I find a discrepancy. The response I got was something like, "How dare some person - a 24-year-old person at that - say that something isn't correct? Doesn't she know what it's like to perform this function? Clearly she is an idiot." My thought (that I quickly learned to never say out loud in a high stress situation) - "This is business, right? I'm just telling you what the regulatory requirement is and where your documentation was missing some elements (or missing all together). Let's just fix it and move on." I was blown away. Then, after a particularly contentious project was completed, the department we were helping gave me a plant. I actually checked it to make sure it wasn't ticking because I thought they might be out to get me.
The two scenarios - vocational ministry and QA auditor don't sound dissimilar do they? Simultaneously loved and hated. I've been at this job for awhile now (closing in on 12 years) and I've been serving in various ministry capacities about as long. I've seen God grow me in my ability to minister effectively through teaching me in very real on-the-job training. Don't misunderstand, any capacity I have for effective ministry is from Jesus Christ Himself. What I'm saying is that He has used my job to grow and change me and teach me how to deal with people.
My automatic default, my propensity, is to be a people pleaser. Had it not been for my job I'm pretty convinced that may never have been broken (and yes I know that God can do whatever He chooses, but He used this). I still struggle with it, but not like I did when I was in my early 20s. I'm much more comfortable now with relational conflict. I'm much more comfortable with hearing people and not thinking I have all the answers or I need to pretend to have all the answers so people will think I'm smart or whatever. I can walk forward, do what needs to be done, treat others well as we do it, and not take that hateful e-mail you just sent after that brutal teleconference personally. I can look at it from your perspective, search my motives (with God's assistance), and decide if I need to do something differently or work through something with you.
In this regard, what makes me good at my job makes me effective in ministry. It's much more challenging to get me to take something personally in a ministry setting than it would have been 12 years ago. I'm not saying that personal attacks don't hurt, they do, but I'm learning more and more to not take them personally. I'm not going to say that I get this right all the time because I don't, but I'm far better off than I was because God has given me amazing experiences through my job that prepared me well for sitting with people and walking through the muck and mire with them. Even when it means I'm going to take a couple shots in the process.
So if you're asking yourself, "What is her point?" I'll tell you. I don't view a divide between what I do for my profession and what I do in ministry - the secular and the sacred. It's all sacred because God goes with me where I go. Not only do I get to be a representative of Christ in my workplace, I also get to be refined by Christ through my workplace.
One day I may end up in vocational ministry, but even without that I'm still in ministry. Let's consider Romans 8:28 for a moment. God does work all things together for good for those who are called according to His purpose. We apply that verse to tragedy and crisis - as well we should - but it also applies to my LIFE. The whole thing. And God works all things including my job for good - both to bless those with whom I work and to refine me. My job is as sacred as the ministries in which I'm involved. The people here are no less precious to my Creator than those in my church. I'm just much better prepared to deal with both because of the work God has done in me through my vocation.
I would challenge all of us to take a look at the job we perform and ask God what He can show you about Himself and how He has used it to refine you. You might well be surprised at what you find.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Auditing & the Gospel
For a living I listen to and help address people's problems. Not only do I do that, but I also routinely identify the problem that we need to work on. I'm not a therapist (though I believe I've been fantastically prepared by God to head in that direction). I'm an auditor. Not of the numbers sort - that would just about undo me. I don't have to deal with financials, thank you Jesus. No, I audit in clinical research. Specifically, I make sure that the appropriate ethics and laws are followed in order to protect people who take experimental medications or use experimental devices.
I've been doing this a long, long time. Just under one-third of my life. I will say that the vast majority of doctors that conduct clinical research do a good job. The things I find during an audit are relatively minor and a result of a misunderstanding, not keeping good records, or benign human error. After doing lots and lots of audits over the years, I've learned that there is just about nothing new under the sun. I've written the same findings numerous times. I'll be honest in that it can get a little frustrating to have to write the same thing. Again. Sometimes for a person you've already said that to once. Or twice. Or maybe even more (the adage "if it wasn't documented, it wasn't done" applies here - some people just have a tough time keeping good notes, though they do the procedures fine).
I used to get really frustrated and angry at the people who didn't "get it right." That is until God started opening up the gospel to me.
There are more than a handful of times that God has had to write the same finding over and over for me. And He never says, "Geez, I wish she'd get it already." He just keeps on loving me, showing me my heart, and offering to complete necessary corrective action for me. We're all like that, to be honest. I mean, the nation of Israel serves to show us a series of the same audit findings over and over and over again. As Matt Chandler says, there are only a couple chapters of good stuff in the Bible before it all goes wrong and sin enters the picture. Then the findings of idolatry and pride start to show up. And God corrects His people. And they do okay for a minute. Then there they go again. Corrective action (humility, dependence on God) out the window and back we go to the same findings. Again. And again. And again.
The gospel reminds me that I desperately need Jesus. I can't take the corrective action needed in my life. He has to take it for me, through the power of His Spirit. With each repeat finding, I'm reminded of my need and His patience. Over time, He works the corrective action out. Theologically speaking this is "sanctification."
This understanding has changed the way I consider repeat audit findings. I'm a lot more compassionate and much less prone to groan about writing the same words. Again. Instead, I try to help educate people, help them understand the rationale for the corrective action, and effect real, lasting change. It's also an opportunity to love them like Jesus loves me.
I'm a firm believer in that God uses all things for His glory, including our jobs. In my years in this industry (about 16 all together) I've learned a lot about Jesus through the circumstances I've encountered and the skills I've learned. I'm thankful that Jesus shows me more of Himself through the profession He gifted me for and in which He placed me.
I've been doing this a long, long time. Just under one-third of my life. I will say that the vast majority of doctors that conduct clinical research do a good job. The things I find during an audit are relatively minor and a result of a misunderstanding, not keeping good records, or benign human error. After doing lots and lots of audits over the years, I've learned that there is just about nothing new under the sun. I've written the same findings numerous times. I'll be honest in that it can get a little frustrating to have to write the same thing. Again. Sometimes for a person you've already said that to once. Or twice. Or maybe even more (the adage "if it wasn't documented, it wasn't done" applies here - some people just have a tough time keeping good notes, though they do the procedures fine).
I used to get really frustrated and angry at the people who didn't "get it right." That is until God started opening up the gospel to me.
There are more than a handful of times that God has had to write the same finding over and over for me. And He never says, "Geez, I wish she'd get it already." He just keeps on loving me, showing me my heart, and offering to complete necessary corrective action for me. We're all like that, to be honest. I mean, the nation of Israel serves to show us a series of the same audit findings over and over and over again. As Matt Chandler says, there are only a couple chapters of good stuff in the Bible before it all goes wrong and sin enters the picture. Then the findings of idolatry and pride start to show up. And God corrects His people. And they do okay for a minute. Then there they go again. Corrective action (humility, dependence on God) out the window and back we go to the same findings. Again. And again. And again.
The gospel reminds me that I desperately need Jesus. I can't take the corrective action needed in my life. He has to take it for me, through the power of His Spirit. With each repeat finding, I'm reminded of my need and His patience. Over time, He works the corrective action out. Theologically speaking this is "sanctification."
This understanding has changed the way I consider repeat audit findings. I'm a lot more compassionate and much less prone to groan about writing the same words. Again. Instead, I try to help educate people, help them understand the rationale for the corrective action, and effect real, lasting change. It's also an opportunity to love them like Jesus loves me.
I'm a firm believer in that God uses all things for His glory, including our jobs. In my years in this industry (about 16 all together) I've learned a lot about Jesus through the circumstances I've encountered and the skills I've learned. I'm thankful that Jesus shows me more of Himself through the profession He gifted me for and in which He placed me.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Tornadoes and Being Missional
Last night was the premier of Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers.
I'm not going to lie - I'm a total geek and I love science. I love meteorology. I grew up in Cleveland watching the sky - and there were some wicked storms that would come off Lake Erie in the Spring and Summer. I remember standing in my godparents backyard, on the driveway, looking up at the anvil cloud - a thunderstorm in the making whose top had reached so high it was sheared by the wind giving it a flat, anvil-like look. I remember standing on the concrete patio on the back of parents house with the aluminim roof listening to thunderous noise of hail plummeting to earth. I remember waking up more than once to my dad carrying me down to the basement because the weather dictated that we go underground for safety.
Though my eyes have always scanned the sky and I get good and geeked up over the science of weather and the physical forces that cause it, there was something about the 2011 tornado season that impacted me in a completely different way.
Throughout March and April tornadoes had been ripping through the plains, causing death and destruction. I watched as one particular line of strong storms marched eastward. I remember the forecasters saying that it was going to be bad in North Carolina - that we should expect the intensity to remain high and cause tornadic activity. On a Saturday afternoon, I watched the sky begin to darken and thought, "Okay, here we go." I turned on the TV to see the composition of the storm and look at the radar. Within minutes, around 3PM, one particular cell to my southwest went tornado warned. I started to pay attention more closely - the Doppler hook on the radar was the most impressive I've ever seen. Then the meteorologist said, "We have a spotter-sighted tornado." I felt like time began to slow down. Spotter sighted - a human being sees the tornado. The storm was moving NE - toward my location.
I continued to watch the weather, like I'm sure everyone in Raleigh did. I prayed and waited. Downtown Raleigh took a direct hit. The tornado stayed on the ground. Right around 4, the color of the sky where I was changed and had a green hue. I knew what that meant and went to the safest place in my house. I was by myself (my son was it his dad's) sitting on my bathroom floor downstairs, waiting to see what would happen - well aware that I could be minutes away from seeing Jesus face-to-face.
And then it went silent. And I don't mean just peaceful quiet. I mean eerily quiet. No sounds. No wind. No rain. No birds. No crickets. Nothing. That lasted for about 60 seconds. Then the sky opened up and all heck broke loose with rain and wind and thunder and lightning. I knew the worst had passed. I emerged from the bathroom as the rain let up and went outside to check my house and to check on my neighbors. All was well, but I could hear police and fire crews screaming by - I knew others weren't so fortunate.
I pulled a storm chaser move and scrambled up to the top of my SUV to get a better look a the storm as it moved east. It was a monster. Later, as I pulled out of the neighborhood to go to Bible study I saw a rainbow beautifully visible against the charcoal gray sky. I stopped and again climbed to the top of my car to take a picture. And in that moment I heard a still, small voice speak into my heart - "God sees and He knows." That was the caption I put with the photo as I posted it to Facebook.
As I drove out of my neighborhood I started to see the destruction. I thought, "How close was the tornado to me?" As it turned out I was within a half mile of the damage path. And I saw destruction. Trees, houses, debris. Power outages. The news reports said that areas of Buffaloe Road were heavily impacted. My son's school was in that area. The next day my son and I drove up to his school. The destruction was incredible. Power lines down. Trees everywhere. Houses flattened. Roofs missing or heavily damaged. The school roof damaged. In the bus loop at the school had a stand of pine trees to one side. It looked as if the trees had been removed and a stand of toothpicks planted instead.
And in my heart something happened. A profound sense of grief for the people that were in the direct path of the tornado that ripped through. I saw people walking around - trying to make sense of what they were seeing. Kids, looking a little shell-shocked, walking down the side of the road. I saw the destruction and the devastation first hand and in my heart this love for my city and for my community welled up. I cried out to God, "How can I help these people?"
I've always been fairly missional. I care deeply about other people and have always tried to give lavishly to others. Missional for me had always been more individual than community. But in that space of 24 hours it went to both individual and community. The school was closed Monday and reopened Tuesday. My employer graciously allowed me whatever time I needed to help at the school. My neighbors and I provided practical help by way of donating goods and food to those who had lost everything. I wanted to see these people made whole again and comforted in a time of uncertainty.
As I prayed, God pressed in to my heart saying, "Everyone has a story and that story needs to be heard." That is what I did as the school reopened. I spent several hours listening to the stories of the kids. Of the staff. Of the parents. And in the process my heart was opened to my community in a way that only God can do. As they told their stories they experienced relief, they experienced community, and I was able to love them as they stood in a dark and uncertain place.
Missional is a buzz word that the evangelical community is super into. In fact, there are some who have sacrificed the gospel to be "missional" and attact people to the church. That isn't at all the concept of missional living. True missional living starts and ends with the gospel. I don't serve my community in order to say I'm awesome or my church is awesome. I serve my community because, through Christ, I have a genuine love for it. I want to show my city Jesus by loving it. I don't serve them to gain anyone's love - I serve because I already have the ultimate love - of Christ Himself. He's given me His eyes to see the community I'm in and to love its people passionately. And he birthed this more fully in me through a natural disaster that helped me see my community in a new light.
So as I watched Storm Chasers last night and saw the footage of the tornadoes that ripped through Alabama just a couple weeks after the tornado in Raleigh, my heart broke for the people all over again. Here, though not so badly hit, people are still rebuilding. There are still blue tarps over roofs as the homeowners wait for their turn to receive repairs. One house completely demolished has risen again from the ground, more magnificent than it was to begin with, but still in the process of being built - nearly seven months after the storm came through.
And as I drive through the streets of Raleigh, I have a deep desire to love my city in a way I didn't this time last year. And for that, I'm thankful. God can truly use anything for our good and His glory. In an afternoon the lives of many were forever changed. Including mine.
I'm not going to lie - I'm a total geek and I love science. I love meteorology. I grew up in Cleveland watching the sky - and there were some wicked storms that would come off Lake Erie in the Spring and Summer. I remember standing in my godparents backyard, on the driveway, looking up at the anvil cloud - a thunderstorm in the making whose top had reached so high it was sheared by the wind giving it a flat, anvil-like look. I remember standing on the concrete patio on the back of parents house with the aluminim roof listening to thunderous noise of hail plummeting to earth. I remember waking up more than once to my dad carrying me down to the basement because the weather dictated that we go underground for safety.
Though my eyes have always scanned the sky and I get good and geeked up over the science of weather and the physical forces that cause it, there was something about the 2011 tornado season that impacted me in a completely different way.
Throughout March and April tornadoes had been ripping through the plains, causing death and destruction. I watched as one particular line of strong storms marched eastward. I remember the forecasters saying that it was going to be bad in North Carolina - that we should expect the intensity to remain high and cause tornadic activity. On a Saturday afternoon, I watched the sky begin to darken and thought, "Okay, here we go." I turned on the TV to see the composition of the storm and look at the radar. Within minutes, around 3PM, one particular cell to my southwest went tornado warned. I started to pay attention more closely - the Doppler hook on the radar was the most impressive I've ever seen. Then the meteorologist said, "We have a spotter-sighted tornado." I felt like time began to slow down. Spotter sighted - a human being sees the tornado. The storm was moving NE - toward my location.
I continued to watch the weather, like I'm sure everyone in Raleigh did. I prayed and waited. Downtown Raleigh took a direct hit. The tornado stayed on the ground. Right around 4, the color of the sky where I was changed and had a green hue. I knew what that meant and went to the safest place in my house. I was by myself (my son was it his dad's) sitting on my bathroom floor downstairs, waiting to see what would happen - well aware that I could be minutes away from seeing Jesus face-to-face.
And then it went silent. And I don't mean just peaceful quiet. I mean eerily quiet. No sounds. No wind. No rain. No birds. No crickets. Nothing. That lasted for about 60 seconds. Then the sky opened up and all heck broke loose with rain and wind and thunder and lightning. I knew the worst had passed. I emerged from the bathroom as the rain let up and went outside to check my house and to check on my neighbors. All was well, but I could hear police and fire crews screaming by - I knew others weren't so fortunate.
I pulled a storm chaser move and scrambled up to the top of my SUV to get a better look a the storm as it moved east. It was a monster. Later, as I pulled out of the neighborhood to go to Bible study I saw a rainbow beautifully visible against the charcoal gray sky. I stopped and again climbed to the top of my car to take a picture. And in that moment I heard a still, small voice speak into my heart - "God sees and He knows." That was the caption I put with the photo as I posted it to Facebook.
As I drove out of my neighborhood I started to see the destruction. I thought, "How close was the tornado to me?" As it turned out I was within a half mile of the damage path. And I saw destruction. Trees, houses, debris. Power outages. The news reports said that areas of Buffaloe Road were heavily impacted. My son's school was in that area. The next day my son and I drove up to his school. The destruction was incredible. Power lines down. Trees everywhere. Houses flattened. Roofs missing or heavily damaged. The school roof damaged. In the bus loop at the school had a stand of pine trees to one side. It looked as if the trees had been removed and a stand of toothpicks planted instead.
And in my heart something happened. A profound sense of grief for the people that were in the direct path of the tornado that ripped through. I saw people walking around - trying to make sense of what they were seeing. Kids, looking a little shell-shocked, walking down the side of the road. I saw the destruction and the devastation first hand and in my heart this love for my city and for my community welled up. I cried out to God, "How can I help these people?"
I've always been fairly missional. I care deeply about other people and have always tried to give lavishly to others. Missional for me had always been more individual than community. But in that space of 24 hours it went to both individual and community. The school was closed Monday and reopened Tuesday. My employer graciously allowed me whatever time I needed to help at the school. My neighbors and I provided practical help by way of donating goods and food to those who had lost everything. I wanted to see these people made whole again and comforted in a time of uncertainty.
As I prayed, God pressed in to my heart saying, "Everyone has a story and that story needs to be heard." That is what I did as the school reopened. I spent several hours listening to the stories of the kids. Of the staff. Of the parents. And in the process my heart was opened to my community in a way that only God can do. As they told their stories they experienced relief, they experienced community, and I was able to love them as they stood in a dark and uncertain place.
Missional is a buzz word that the evangelical community is super into. In fact, there are some who have sacrificed the gospel to be "missional" and attact people to the church. That isn't at all the concept of missional living. True missional living starts and ends with the gospel. I don't serve my community in order to say I'm awesome or my church is awesome. I serve my community because, through Christ, I have a genuine love for it. I want to show my city Jesus by loving it. I don't serve them to gain anyone's love - I serve because I already have the ultimate love - of Christ Himself. He's given me His eyes to see the community I'm in and to love its people passionately. And he birthed this more fully in me through a natural disaster that helped me see my community in a new light.
So as I watched Storm Chasers last night and saw the footage of the tornadoes that ripped through Alabama just a couple weeks after the tornado in Raleigh, my heart broke for the people all over again. Here, though not so badly hit, people are still rebuilding. There are still blue tarps over roofs as the homeowners wait for their turn to receive repairs. One house completely demolished has risen again from the ground, more magnificent than it was to begin with, but still in the process of being built - nearly seven months after the storm came through.
And as I drive through the streets of Raleigh, I have a deep desire to love my city in a way I didn't this time last year. And for that, I'm thankful. God can truly use anything for our good and His glory. In an afternoon the lives of many were forever changed. Including mine.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
So the SBC Wants To Change Its Name?
All right. Apparently the Twitter-verse exploded last night because the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is considering changing its name (see http://www.dennyburk.com/southern-baptist-convention-considers-name-change/). According to the linked article, the SBC President appointed a task force to answer a series of questions -
1) Is it a good idea, that is, is there value in considering a name change?
2) If so, what would be a good name to suggest?
3) What would be the potential legal ramifications of a name change?
4) What would be the potential financial implications?
These are all good questions to ask. I think I'd like to add - what does God want and how would a name change glorify Him and advance the gospel?
And some of you are wondering why on earth I would care. Well, there is one major reason. I'm about to join a church that is affiliated with the SBC. I don't care on the level of some bloggers I read, just to be clear, but it is interesting.
The simple fact I'm considering joining a church when I grew up believing that church membership requirements might well be from Satan himself pretty much qualifies as a miracle. If I weren't 100% sure that God was guiding me in this, I would have nothing to do with it. The simple fact is that He has changed my ideas on church membership in the past year to even open up my heart enough to walk down this path. The reason I'm amenable to membership now is way too long an explanation for this blog, but the impetus started with God moving on my heart and exposing me to an idea I had never considered.
Secondly, if the church I am about to join had the term "Southern Baptist" in its name I would never have set foot in it. I'm being honest here. While I am from Ohio, I grew up in the South and I have been to Southern Baptist churches. Those churches did a lot of harm to me spiritually, including scaring the life out of me regarding end times and the return of Jesus. I was also assessed based on what I wore and how I behaved, not on who I was and that was very detrimental. The Southern Baptists reinforced the belief I held that I only mattered if I performed for God in a way acceptable to the church. That way happened to be at odds with my personality, which is a little bit wide open and outside the box. I'm not a Sunday's finest gal - I'm jeans and a t-shirt (albeit a sparkly t-shirt because I do love me some bling and I possess a prissy streak).
To be clear - when I say "out of the box" I do not mean unbiblical - I would have a problem with me in that case! And to be fair - there were a lot of other circumstances in my life in play when I went to these churches. And to be even more fair - I experienced the crushing weight of legalism at non-denominational churches, too. Legalism can show up anywhere.
I know this isn't how all Southern Baptist churches operated back then, but this was my experience with more than one and I'll be honest that it left a really bad taste in my mouth. The experiences were enough to keep me from darkening the door of another one until, at the leading of the Holy Spirit, I unknowingly stepped into a church affiliated with the SBC.
What I see in this particular church is a lot of God's grace. I don't think for a second it's anything that the pastoral staff dreamed up or decided to "pilot" as part of some SBC program - I think it has to do with the very real movement of the Holy Spirit that I started to notice 12 years ago - and that set me free from a lot of bondage I was living in. Since it's a move of God, denominational boundaries were (and are) irrelevant - if you are a Christ follower then He was (and is) wooing your heart in this direction.
So with all that being said, I can see - purely from my own perspective - why the SBC might want to change its name. It has some heavy connotations - some are good (if you had a great experience in a good church growing up) and some are not (like mine). I also think that God can use whatever He pleases, regardless of the name, if He sees fit. He obviously has used the SBC and affiliated churches to preach the gospel to many. I mean, really, I could be affiliated with the Gospel-centered People of the Purple Feathers and if we're committed to the gospel, God is going to use it.
I'm also not saying that considering a name change is a bad thing. By all means, consider it. I really hope the message of the Gospel doesn't get lost in the debate. After all, this is all about Jesus and making Him known.
Ultimately, I personally don't care what the SBC elects to do since I don't really have a dog in the fight. Nothing they decide will change the fact that I'm joining a church that happens to be affiliated with the SBC. These are just my thoughts on the whole shebang. I mean, since the Twitter-verse went haywire, I ought to give my $0.02, too, right?!
1) Is it a good idea, that is, is there value in considering a name change?
2) If so, what would be a good name to suggest?
3) What would be the potential legal ramifications of a name change?
4) What would be the potential financial implications?
These are all good questions to ask. I think I'd like to add - what does God want and how would a name change glorify Him and advance the gospel?
And some of you are wondering why on earth I would care. Well, there is one major reason. I'm about to join a church that is affiliated with the SBC. I don't care on the level of some bloggers I read, just to be clear, but it is interesting.
The simple fact I'm considering joining a church when I grew up believing that church membership requirements might well be from Satan himself pretty much qualifies as a miracle. If I weren't 100% sure that God was guiding me in this, I would have nothing to do with it. The simple fact is that He has changed my ideas on church membership in the past year to even open up my heart enough to walk down this path. The reason I'm amenable to membership now is way too long an explanation for this blog, but the impetus started with God moving on my heart and exposing me to an idea I had never considered.
Secondly, if the church I am about to join had the term "Southern Baptist" in its name I would never have set foot in it. I'm being honest here. While I am from Ohio, I grew up in the South and I have been to Southern Baptist churches. Those churches did a lot of harm to me spiritually, including scaring the life out of me regarding end times and the return of Jesus. I was also assessed based on what I wore and how I behaved, not on who I was and that was very detrimental. The Southern Baptists reinforced the belief I held that I only mattered if I performed for God in a way acceptable to the church. That way happened to be at odds with my personality, which is a little bit wide open and outside the box. I'm not a Sunday's finest gal - I'm jeans and a t-shirt (albeit a sparkly t-shirt because I do love me some bling and I possess a prissy streak).
To be clear - when I say "out of the box" I do not mean unbiblical - I would have a problem with me in that case! And to be fair - there were a lot of other circumstances in my life in play when I went to these churches. And to be even more fair - I experienced the crushing weight of legalism at non-denominational churches, too. Legalism can show up anywhere.
I know this isn't how all Southern Baptist churches operated back then, but this was my experience with more than one and I'll be honest that it left a really bad taste in my mouth. The experiences were enough to keep me from darkening the door of another one until, at the leading of the Holy Spirit, I unknowingly stepped into a church affiliated with the SBC.
What I see in this particular church is a lot of God's grace. I don't think for a second it's anything that the pastoral staff dreamed up or decided to "pilot" as part of some SBC program - I think it has to do with the very real movement of the Holy Spirit that I started to notice 12 years ago - and that set me free from a lot of bondage I was living in. Since it's a move of God, denominational boundaries were (and are) irrelevant - if you are a Christ follower then He was (and is) wooing your heart in this direction.
So with all that being said, I can see - purely from my own perspective - why the SBC might want to change its name. It has some heavy connotations - some are good (if you had a great experience in a good church growing up) and some are not (like mine). I also think that God can use whatever He pleases, regardless of the name, if He sees fit. He obviously has used the SBC and affiliated churches to preach the gospel to many. I mean, really, I could be affiliated with the Gospel-centered People of the Purple Feathers and if we're committed to the gospel, God is going to use it.
I'm also not saying that considering a name change is a bad thing. By all means, consider it. I really hope the message of the Gospel doesn't get lost in the debate. After all, this is all about Jesus and making Him known.
Ultimately, I personally don't care what the SBC elects to do since I don't really have a dog in the fight. Nothing they decide will change the fact that I'm joining a church that happens to be affiliated with the SBC. These are just my thoughts on the whole shebang. I mean, since the Twitter-verse went haywire, I ought to give my $0.02, too, right?!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Growing Up Evangelical
Okay, so I've been thinking about this a lot the past couple days. There are some transitions happening in my life - all of which are good - but I think it's only natural to look at things and consider them during such a time. Of course it could be me and none of the rest of you ever experience this. At any rate I've been doing a lot of thinking about the church. I don't mean one particular church - I mean THE church.
I grew up in the church. I'm not quite the kid that Matt Chandler (pastor of The Village Church in Dallas, TX, who I listen to a lot and respect as a very solid Bible teacher) describes as being literally birthed in the sanctuary. But I'll admit it's a really close description. My life has always included Jesus. I don't have some amazing conversion story where I was strung out and Jesus spoke to me through it and saved me. He was just always there and I always knew He was for real. I recall having dreams and stuff about heaven and being with Jesus when I was a little kid. Jesus + my life = normal.
There has also never been a time, save for a few years as a young adult, that I wasn't actively involved in a church. I've been part of the Lutheran, Southern Baptist, and Calvary Chapel (yes, they are a denomination that calls themselves non-denominational - we can argue about that later) denominations. I've also served in a ministry or leadership capacity for just about as long as I can remember - I taught for my first time when I was 8 - in my dad's church in the children's ministry. We talked about the story of Joseph and I used a flannel graph, which was high technology back then. I've seen vocational ministry from the inside and it's not always real pretty.
And here is why I wanted to write this note. I grew up in the evangelical climate of the 80s and 90s. And I am a Christ follower. I have never not been a Christ follower, despite the fact that I went through a major period of rebellion in my teens.
I lived in the Christian bubble life that Reformed pastors now rail against. I've struggled heavily with my upbringing from a spiritual perspective. In the past I was being crushed by the burdens of legalism which caused tons of problems for me spiritually and emotionally. I saw first-hand people reject God because of the actions of their church (and other Christians). I participated in tape/CD burning parties (and then went out and bought the same music again a few months later). I went to all manner of Christian concerts (and youth of today you need to understand how awesome you have it - the 80s and 90s were just about 100% lame musically). I was utterly dying under the weight of rules I attempted to make myself follow, not understanding the gospel in any sort of life-giving way.
But I was saved. In that nonsense somehow I heard the gospel and God did a number on my heart - He reached in and saved me. And I'm not the only one. There are lots of us who are a product of the evangelical climate of that time who are now parents, husbands, wives, preachers - and we are all believers. Does this mean we shouldn't zealously contend for the gospel and relentlessly talk about God's grace? Absolutely not. Does this mean that we should gloss over some of the serioulsy ridiculous, harmful, and dorky that characterizes those times? No, not all. What I'm saying is that we need to be very, very careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. It is VERY tempting to become prideful in what we think is better and do the "us-against-them" number.
The real take away, in my opinion, is that we should not vilify an entire decade (or two). Nor should we gloss over the very real concerns and oddities. What we absolutely have to do is hold fast to the gospel. I've seen people who grew up in that era who have now swung into license - doing things purely for shock value in their churches because they "can." As I recall, the Apostle Paul made mention that everything is permissable but not everything is beneficial. That is something that we can't lose sight of as we press forward in our freedom.
There were for sure issues in evangelicalism back in the day. There are issues now. The only hope we have for our kids who are now growing up evangelical is to hold fast to the gospel. To teach them that we have a desperate need for a Savior no matter how well we can make ourselves behave externally. To teach them who we are in Christ. To acknowledge the weirdness of the past and present that doesn't line up with scripture. And above all to know that God will make up for the stupid things we'll unknowingly do because we're sinners and He is gracious and He is calling people to Himself.
So, please feel free to laugh at evangelicalism from two decades ago and by all means work through any issues the weirdness may have caused. Look at it all in truth for sure. But don't vilify it - people met Jesus in it. That is proof positive that He can do whatever He wants by any means He chooses. There are problems now; no church or denomination is perfect - don't forget that the church is made up of people - and I'm sure the Bible teaches that we are all pretty much a hot mess in need of a Savior. No matter what decade you happen to have been born into.
Anyway these are just things on my mind as I've looked back on almost 36 years in the church.
I grew up in the church. I'm not quite the kid that Matt Chandler (pastor of The Village Church in Dallas, TX, who I listen to a lot and respect as a very solid Bible teacher) describes as being literally birthed in the sanctuary. But I'll admit it's a really close description. My life has always included Jesus. I don't have some amazing conversion story where I was strung out and Jesus spoke to me through it and saved me. He was just always there and I always knew He was for real. I recall having dreams and stuff about heaven and being with Jesus when I was a little kid. Jesus + my life = normal.
There has also never been a time, save for a few years as a young adult, that I wasn't actively involved in a church. I've been part of the Lutheran, Southern Baptist, and Calvary Chapel (yes, they are a denomination that calls themselves non-denominational - we can argue about that later) denominations. I've also served in a ministry or leadership capacity for just about as long as I can remember - I taught for my first time when I was 8 - in my dad's church in the children's ministry. We talked about the story of Joseph and I used a flannel graph, which was high technology back then. I've seen vocational ministry from the inside and it's not always real pretty.
And here is why I wanted to write this note. I grew up in the evangelical climate of the 80s and 90s. And I am a Christ follower. I have never not been a Christ follower, despite the fact that I went through a major period of rebellion in my teens.
I lived in the Christian bubble life that Reformed pastors now rail against. I've struggled heavily with my upbringing from a spiritual perspective. In the past I was being crushed by the burdens of legalism which caused tons of problems for me spiritually and emotionally. I saw first-hand people reject God because of the actions of their church (and other Christians). I participated in tape/CD burning parties (and then went out and bought the same music again a few months later). I went to all manner of Christian concerts (and youth of today you need to understand how awesome you have it - the 80s and 90s were just about 100% lame musically). I was utterly dying under the weight of rules I attempted to make myself follow, not understanding the gospel in any sort of life-giving way.
But I was saved. In that nonsense somehow I heard the gospel and God did a number on my heart - He reached in and saved me. And I'm not the only one. There are lots of us who are a product of the evangelical climate of that time who are now parents, husbands, wives, preachers - and we are all believers. Does this mean we shouldn't zealously contend for the gospel and relentlessly talk about God's grace? Absolutely not. Does this mean that we should gloss over some of the serioulsy ridiculous, harmful, and dorky that characterizes those times? No, not all. What I'm saying is that we need to be very, very careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. It is VERY tempting to become prideful in what we think is better and do the "us-against-them" number.
The real take away, in my opinion, is that we should not vilify an entire decade (or two). Nor should we gloss over the very real concerns and oddities. What we absolutely have to do is hold fast to the gospel. I've seen people who grew up in that era who have now swung into license - doing things purely for shock value in their churches because they "can." As I recall, the Apostle Paul made mention that everything is permissable but not everything is beneficial. That is something that we can't lose sight of as we press forward in our freedom.
There were for sure issues in evangelicalism back in the day. There are issues now. The only hope we have for our kids who are now growing up evangelical is to hold fast to the gospel. To teach them that we have a desperate need for a Savior no matter how well we can make ourselves behave externally. To teach them who we are in Christ. To acknowledge the weirdness of the past and present that doesn't line up with scripture. And above all to know that God will make up for the stupid things we'll unknowingly do because we're sinners and He is gracious and He is calling people to Himself.
So, please feel free to laugh at evangelicalism from two decades ago and by all means work through any issues the weirdness may have caused. Look at it all in truth for sure. But don't vilify it - people met Jesus in it. That is proof positive that He can do whatever He wants by any means He chooses. There are problems now; no church or denomination is perfect - don't forget that the church is made up of people - and I'm sure the Bible teaches that we are all pretty much a hot mess in need of a Savior. No matter what decade you happen to have been born into.
Anyway these are just things on my mind as I've looked back on almost 36 years in the church.
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