Leaning Forward

Doing Saturday

So, here it is, Saturday, the final day of the week, the pinnacle of the weekend, the most schizophrenic day on the calendar, the day when most of us finally go mad. This is so because most of us try to cram so much into it, twelve hours moving at break-neck speeds, a to do list longer than your arm, and the naivete to believe we can successfully navigate the day and get every base covered.

A wise sage said, "Americans worship their work, play at their worship, and work at their play". So, if today is the play day, we'll labor at it as hard as we've done our employment work in the days leading up to now. What is more, there's the long list of normal stuff to cram into the minutes before and after our play. In between golf, fishing, the movie theater, bike riding, the water park or pool, the beach, the range, a short or long jog, and forty-eleven other leisure activities, there's also the laundry, the grocery store, the pharmacy, post office, exterminator, blah, blah, blah. Don't forget the yard, house cleaning, washing the car, changing the beds, and all the routine maintenance that keeps the ranch operating. Lest we forget, there are the seasons too---football, basketball, baseball, soccer, rugby, judo, karate---to include our favorite teams, kids sports, children, grand-children, nieces, nephews, the neighbors, and television round the clock. Oh yeah, birthday parties, anniversaries, weddings, showers, covered dish suppers, church events, Chuck E. Cheese's, and thirty seven other social obligations.

Manic Saturday. And, it's supposed to be the day of rest. So, where did that go, anyway, the idea of "Sabbath"? Even with all the calendar shuffling over the past two millennia, Saturday is still the last day of the week in the Christian-Judeo ethic, the seventh day, the day God rested. Well, some people shifted it to Sunday, the first day of the week, the day Christians remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the day most of us worship. So, Sunday is not the day we work at our leisure too.

And, that's exactly why superficiality is the curse of this age (see Richard Foster's The Celebration of Discipline, for the exact quote) and most people are always running on empty. There's no down-time. Worn out by working at our play, then many just play at the worship thing and go back to the job place worn to a frazzle. The domestic home front is crazy because we're living in a time warp of confusion. We humans desperately need time off the treadmill, a Sabbath to totally gather ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually.  

So, here we are, Saturday! Step back. Chill. Relax. Nap. Rest. Refresh. And decide right this minute to worship tomorrow.

Partnering in the public square

When I studied accounting in college at least a millennium ago, Commander Young taught us that partnerships are typically the hardest  business arrangements to start and maintain. Yet, strategic partnerships are clearly visible at just about every intersection of history. And, the rationale isn't mysterious. None of us the the entire package. We need other people to help us gap our shortcomings.

When God surveyed creation He himself said, "It is not good for the man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18). His provision was stupendous, someone to make the man complete. a pair, a partnership that became the foundation of civilization. But, from that point in Scripture throughout, God did many things in pairs---Moses and Aaron and later Joshua, David and Jonathan, Paul and Silas, not to mention Timothy, Philemon, and Titus, plus a long cast of others.

Closer to home the American revolution happened as a result of strategic partners leading basically rural colonists in the break from British rule. And, what a group of partners they were---Patrick Henry, the voice of the revolution; Thomas Jefferson, the pen of the revolution; George Washington, the sword of the revolution; John Adams, the mind of the revolution. It's the same in just about every important epic in our multi-layered history: Dwight Eisenhower, George Marshall, George Patton, and many others during World War II; Billy Graham and Cliff Barrows and George Beverly Shea; Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis; Batman and Robin, Marshall Dillon and Chester; Tonto and the Lone Ranger; and dozes of other pairings.

The church today sits quietly in the corner of the world, unnoticed and shoved into the background in great part because we've forgotten the grace of partnership. Not very one can be an effective orator, nor can every person be the brains of the outfit, the strategist, the motivator, the leader, the intellect, the organizer, or any of the other strategic positions we can dream up. So, the entire body is idle while the world is on fire because we've forgotten what this body imagery is about, and the essential meaning of partnership.

So, it's a body. The parts are arranged just as God planned (see 1 Corinthians 12:18). They are all created to accomplish something vastly different from the others, with the intention that each is for the benefit of the body. None is more important than any of the others. And, they are kept in sync by being attached to the head, that is, Jesus Christ the Lord. In the New Testament the relationship of the parts of the body is often referred to as fellowship, a common bond that links the diverse parts for motion---mission and service and ministry. In some place this fellowship (koinonia in the Greek) is translated partnership. Paul thanked the Philippians for their partner- ship in the gospel. It was the rich fellowship than enabled them to function as a body, each performing a function that makes the whole possible.

Today, a world characterized by particularization and individualization celebrates diversity to the injury of this partnership. So, because we will not partner, there's no strong voice at the table of ideas. The church is closeted away from the public square because we can't get the minds and the voices and the hearts and the eyes and the ears connected. As a result, the influence of the church in the larger issues of life is missing.

What's the deal with this, the denominations forming monolithic pillars unattached in meaningful way?  One group silences the other in the political arena, divided voices spout confusion about the sanctity of human life, we disagree about something as basic as a vision about marriage, or whether or not we can actually speak to the issues of life and death. 

And, we're back at the beginning. Take the imagery a step farther. The church, the body, is the bride of Christ. The bride and bride-groom, in the covenant that joins them, and the result is that they become "one flesh". This is partnership on another level, a divine connection, a heavenly union.

This must happen, even within our own denomination and church, so that we can have minds, hearts, ears, eyes, and voices to speak to the times.  

The reason I don't talk physics

So, OK. Let's talk quantum physics. You know, waves, particles, motion, energy, random movement, the Copenhagen Interpretation, and the Uncertainty Principle are totally awesome topics. Trouble is, I don't know a single thing about any of them. The outcome? I can't talk about them any more than I can say the name Nils Bohr.

It's not rocket surgery, as the airhead told her friends. Beyond the usual bluff of one with the gift of gab, most of us won't talk about things we don't know. The human species, wired with at least some measure of ego, will maneuver conversations in a generally familiar direction, far away from areas of uncertainty. It's the "cat got your tongue" thing, the awkward silence when the discussion has crossed into an area past our knowledge, away from our interests, beyond our grasp. Silence is most often the answer when we're beyond our depth.

Perhaps the gag in the mouth of the Christian community today is simply a lack of knowledge about what is going on in the world around us. Well, yes, there's the head in the sand thing too, the serious denial that marks our blindness to a growing secularism around us. But, there is also a couple of horrible truths that may better explain why we will not speak to the times.

[1] We are biblically illiterate and cannot bring spiritual truth to the table.
[2] We cannot explain how a Biblical world-view addresses moral and ethical issues.
[3] We tend to classify most front page issues as political rather than theological.
[4] We are not well read about the clash of world-views and culture wars.
[5] Because we are uninformed, we are reluctant to speak boldly.

Sadly, disciple-making is not our long suit. It is the Great Commission Jesus gave His disciples, and does comprise much of the instruction in the New Testament. It's part of the righteous-speak we toss around in our pulpits and classrooms, seminary class- rooms, and in our evangelism rallies. Making disciples is the verbiage of new mission statements, core values, and tag lines. But, a majority of believers can't defend our pro-life position or explain the biblical grounds for combating drug or alcohol abuse, much less the Scriptural background of a stance regarding stem cell research. 

How many Christians can discuss the separation of powers as defined in the United States Constitution, or intelligently debate freedom of religion? Few of us can give an apologia (look it up) for the hope that is in us, or explain the role of government in society. Just reading the editorial page and letters to the editor, it's obvious the atheists are more schooled in their religious opinions that most believers. We've been muzzled by our own ignorance. And, that is a really sad note about the state of faith in the United States and around the world.  

Jesus send His disciples out into the world. He gave them a pretty bleak picture of what to expect. Sheep among wolves is a harsh image of what it would be. Then, he attached an addendum. He said, "Therefore, be as shrewd as serpents, and as harm- less as doves" (Matthew 10:16, HCSB). Obviously, Jesus didn't want them to be naive and uninformed. Later he told them to "...learn from Me..." (Matthew 11:29), and then taught them parables of the Kingdom so they would know how to live in an alien world. Count the hundreds of times the word "know" is used in the teachings of Jesus, certainly an indication that He didn't expect them to be clueless about the times. Much later Paul wrote a similar vein, "...we also believe and therefore speak" (2 Corinthians 4:13). In the early church they could turn the world upside down because they believed and taught the Apostles doctrine and were confident in their abiltiy to address the abuses of the day.

So, the world is going you know where in a hand-basket and we're so tongue tied we can't speak truth into it. Sadly, Paul predicted just such a time. He wrote to his protege Timothy, "For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new" (2 Timothy 4:3).

We better wise up and speak up.

Blending in

Liu Bolin is a phenom in the art world these days! His camouflage art are photographs of him being painted into a colorful backdrop, like the one pictured at stage left. A show at New York's Eli Klein Art Gallery features his masterpieces of blending in. See if you can find him in the picture. If you can, you've got some good eyes. Some people have a hard time detecting the human outlines hidden in his work. It's only because Mr. Bolin is the master at blending in.

So, segue into a few paragraphs about invisible faith, as if such a phenomenon could exist. The secular city, characterized by mobility and anonymity, seems oblivious to the influence of evangelical orthodoxy in the cultural hierarchy of the times. One must conclude therefore, that Christ's church and Her millions of congregants have acquired the mysteries of disguise. This may explain, to some degree, the puzzling demographics that the pollsters strut out every year or so. A majority of Americans still profess some measure of spiritual affiliation, more often than not checking the Christian box on the survey forms. But, in reality, where are they? Few of the many significant moral indicators register declines. The Christians are barely detectable in the cultural numbers. They must be hiding out somewhere, or either, blending in.

The images Jesus used to relate spiritual truth to the multitudes generally depicted a visible presence, an obvious societal influence by His disciples. They were to be salt and light with a very distinct impact on the world around them, the unique flavor and brightness specific to the natural elements. In that comparison, Jesus added that their light was to be so particular that men "...may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Put whatever spin you like, it was obvious Jesus meant for His people to stand out in a crowd.

One of the shockers for me in this environment is the casual way believers mesh with the world system. It's a synthetic world-view that merges the comfort zones of faith with the fun and games of secularism. The end result is a hybrid that is soft on moral standards, long on tolerance, deficient in establishing moral standards, prodigious in doing your own thing. It's pop religion, Jesus that saves the world but doesn't change people, Jesus that died for sinners, loves them to the Father, and leaves them the way He found them. Underneath is the image of Jesus inviting sinners to come, but rarely telling them to "Go, and sin no more." Rally round the cross kids, then go out there and blend in.

To "walk by faith" is another comparative phrase Scripture offers to describe life in Christ. The implication, of course, is that the standards of faith and the eternal truth of Scripture should define the length and breath of our lives. It means we should live this life day in and day out, and the the mind of Christ should mark what we do, that is, everything we do. So, our language should be the words He would use, our thoughts the pure character of His thoughts, the places we go the places He would go, the way we spend our money, the choice of our close friends, the lifestyles we choose, the jokes we tell, the music we listen to, the clothes we wear---all should mark us distinctly as His. There are no exclusions or exceptions, no brackets or asterisks. Blending in isn't the call.

Paul wrote to Titus, "For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, godly way in the present age..." (Titus 2:11-12). He also wrote to the Philippians, "Just one thing: Live your life in a manner worthy of Christ" (1:27). Even more to the point, he wrote,"Instead, we have renounced shameful secret things, not walking in deceit or distorting God's message, but commending ourselves to every person's conscience in God's sight by an open display of the truth" (2 Cor. 4:2).

An open display of the truth. Not blending in.  

The glance back

Yesterday was a satisfying glance back, but only that, a glance. Harriet, The Chester, my brother Mike, his wife Sally, and a crowd of  like-minded seekers worshiped with our fast- forward on pause so we could look back. It was the fiftieth anniversary of Edwards Rd. Baptist Church, Greenville, SC. Hundreds of us relished the sight. But, it was a glance, no more. Mature people know we can't go back.

Scripture leans us distinctly forward. When angels with flaming swords were assigned to guard the gates of the Garden of Eden the message was clear: one, perfection is no longer possible; and two, there's no going back. During the Exodus, the children of Israel often wished to return to the relative comforts of Egypt but were consistently moved forward by the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey. The prophets moved the nation to covenant renewal with the promise of redemption. Jesus would not be detoured away from the finishing business of the cross. And, the Apostle Paul wrote to forget the past and press on toward the prize of the high calling of Christ. As much and as often as we'd like, there's no going back.

But, there is the glance back, the quick reference point of the rear-view mirror to see where we've been. That's what the fiftieth homecoming of ERBC was for me, a momentary cessation of motion to permit moments with important touch-stones of the past. So, Sunday, Pastor Aaron Rayburn, the wise leader of ERBC now, invited people from the past to speak, challenge, and inspire those in attendance with the Word of God, and remembrances from the epochs of the church. We laughed and cried, reflected on valued friends and events, and thanked God for a precious past. The anecdote's and stories previous pastors Bill Palmer and Earl Crumpler told were a blessing. H.S. Yarborough and Jerry Brown, both previous music ministers at ERBC, both sang, surprising everyone with the strength and beauty of voices given to Him many years ago. Alistair Walker, a previous interim pastor, brought a great Bible message. The ERBC Choir sang, as did Turning Point, led by previous music minister Danny Whipple. It was a blessing in every way.

Then, there were the wonderful people that had shared the ERBC experience over the last fifty years. Many of the people who were in the youth group with me fifty years ago had returned. Most of us had been in school together from grade school through Wade Hampton High School. Four of us has gone on to The Citadel together. Of course, the servants who had taught and trained us were there too, those still living. We loved them, thanked them, and remembered those in eternity. It was a tremendous glance back.

But, only that. The Bible instructs God's people to remember. Moses wrote a song to help Israel remember God's guidance through the wilderness. The historians kept meticulous records of their people and history. King David's Psalms are a record of God's hand in his life and reign. Over and over God taught His people to cling to their ancient landmarks, to perpetuate their faith in their generations, and to take the glance back at His glorious deliverance.

Why? So they could move forward under the assurance of His care, knowing the total reliability of His promise. They were to recite and rehearse their history so they could boldly move forward to the future He had planned for them. The glance back was commanded so they could move forward.

Often there is confusion about it. We want more, for the glance back to morph into a going back. But, it is not to be.

Solomon wrote, "Don't say, 'Why were the former days better than these? For it is not wise for you to ask this.'" (Ecclesiastes 7:10), the theme verse of this blog. It's just a gentle reminder of what God wired into life: we cannot go back, and must be thank- ful for the occasional glance there.

BTW, Cindy, Jimmy, Emily, Chuck, Charlie, Gerrie, Steve, Beth, Don, Fran, Teresa, Quito, Joy, Mike, Sally, Jerry, Bill, Ellen, Betty, Pat, Jan, Stan, Russell, Vicki, and all the rest, you made my glance back a day I will remember often in the days ahead.

Thank you all.    

ERBC, fifty years later

For more than the past fifty years Edwards Road Baptist Church has held a special place in my heart. When our grandfather Rev. O. F. Owens retired from West Greenville Baptist Church in 1962, our family sought church membership in a location closer to our east- side Greenville home. We visited several Baptist churches. They both recommended that we consider a new mission church.

So, soon we were attending what would become Edwards Road Baptist Mission, and then, later, Edwards Road Baptist Church. It was my church home in perhaps the most formative years of life, from perhaps the fifth grade through college. My life was shaped Dr. William Palmer, our first pastor, Rev. Jerry Brown, our minister of Music and Youth, and by a corps of gifted, servant hearted teachers---the Bill Normans, the Don Turners, the Lamar Franks, the Jim Leaches, the Pete Ingrams, the Ronnie Halls, the Tippy Leaches, and many more. How instrumental these people were in providing a spiritual foundation for so many young people, especially this one who later was called into ministry.

This Sunday I will be away from the wonderful congregation entrusted to my care, the Northwood Baptist Church family, to observe the fiftieth anniversary of Edwards Road Baptist Church with my dad, The Chester. It will be a day of remembrance as well as celebration, being with people from our past, renewing some valuable relationships, and being with the people who were so important in our development.

From a picnic shelter to an old house to the Lake Forest Elementary School to the current campus, ERBC has touched many lives and experienced the usual motion of churches during the past 50 years. My prayer for this week is that they remember the people who moved them through every stage, celebrate the wonderful state of the church today, and anticipate a glorious future, with glory to the Father in all.

I know Pastor Aaron Rayburn has done an incredible work leading ERBC and my only regret is that I will not get to hear him preach. Of course, Dr. Alistair Walker, who has served ERBC as interim, will bring the morning message,. That will be a treat. Dr. Walker was interim at Hampton Heights Baptist Church after my pastorate there, and is the past SCBC President who prayed over me when I was elected to lead our state convention in 2010-2011.

And, BTW, they're having dinner on the grounds, and you know how these Baptists can cook.

One week

It's not big time football, but in just one week my alma mater Citadel Bulldogs will take the field against cross-town rival, and my second favorite team, the Charleston Southern Univ. Buccaneers. It is the 2013 season opener and it will happen at Johnson Hagood Stadium, close to The Citadel campus, at 6:00 p.m. To say I'm looking forward to it may be some- thing of an understatement. Like many other people, football season is max time. It's high octane season for me.

The football game may actually be the side-show at most stadiums next week. Being in the parking lot hours before the game, looking at the elaborate spreads for the tail-gate, participating in the pre-game rituals, may be the stuff of football Saturday in the USA. Sure, the game is the reason for gathering crowds, the cameras, cheer leaders, marching bands and some of the hoopla that goes with it. But, the occasion is seeing class-mates, friends, people on your row, concessions, and the college gift shop. Maybe a few toddies if you're inclined in that direction.

I'm not much into professional sports of any flavor. Those guys make too much money to suit my tastes and then spend it in ways that often offends me more. But, college athletics gets me going, even at the small school level of the Southern Conference. There's just something about student athletes, school pride, all the pageantry and pizzazz that rings my bell, rivalries, fired-up coaches (as opposed to fired coaches), that raises my pulse a digit or ten. When the Dogs take the field between line of arrayed knobbies, my blood pumps faster, even with the low noise level of less that 20,000 fans.

So, college sports is a hot conversation topic among the talking heads. Dr. Lou and the other experts love to blow-off about paying student athletes, doping rules, the scandal when players talk to an agent, and what the coach said to the team at half- time, like they really know. But, they do add some color to the games, and give something for the arm-chair quarterbacks to argue about over a cold one. For me, most top line players already receive some kind of payment, or my name isn't Sonny Holmes. I mean, there must be laundry money, demonstrator cars from the auto dealerships, hair cuts, tattoos, excess book allowances, cafeteria cash, and some other dividends from zealous alumni. Most of the payers don't look poverty stricken when they arrive in their SUV in designer jeans, and $200 shoes. Give me a break. So, let it alone. The system seems to work pretty well.

In a week I'll grab my parking pass, put on my Citadel duds, attach the flags to the car, grab my season tickets, and head down to the Holliday ALumni Center for some bar-b-que and a fun evening of Citadel-CSU football. Then Sunday morning, I'll go to church as usual, in a good or bad mood most weeks based on who won or lost.

But, not next week. I'll be a happy camper regardless.  

More spiritual than Jesus, again

Excuse me, but I'm offended by people who wear the pretense of being more spiritual than Jesus! It's the all new mega-, super-, or hyper- version that takes license with Scripture and portrays Him in ways not totally consistent with the biblical record. All to often the result of this one- dimensional picture of the Lord is the church without teeth, or more eloquently, C.S. Lewis's characterization of men without chests. It happens when Christian leaders become more spiritual than Jesus! That is, they add to Scripture and embellish the biblical image of Christ with their own arrogant twists. Bad!

The theological implications of hyper-spirituality is dangerous in any context. Using a comparative idea from Leonard Sweet, to imitate Christ is one thing, to impersonate Him, quite another. Our best moves to follow Him are always going to occur with a severe limp, the flawed human in us always short of His ideal. To even think that we can become Him, like Him, or even remotely close to His perfection, even when motivated by our best instincts, is self-love that may border auto-idolatry.

Here's the deal. Over the past couple of years the "more spiritual than Jesus" group has basically tried to silence the Christian voice in the political arena. So, the torch bearers for the separation of church and state movement have drawn lines around political discourse, even when the talk crosses over into clearly spiritual topics. It's the acceptance, moderation, soft-spoken image of a Jesus, Jesus, Meek and Mild, like the one picture above, magnified by heavy does of personal piety. 

Of course, this tampering with Scripture is no different than the infidels who twist and use The Book for their own selfish purposes. Sure, Jesus the shepherd was kind and gentle, a healer who touched the raw places in human lives, a teacher with a word of comfort for the disenfranchised, a warm welcome embrace for those left on the outside of established social systems. The list of descriptives is long---Redeemer, Savior, Truth, Life, Way, Light, Life and so much more. He was winsome and loving and accepting.

But, that's not all. He also called the religious zealots a brood of vipers, and even worse, hypocrites, blind guides, white-washed tombs, leaven, sons of the devil, foolish ones, blind men, and more. The one who is the Truth always spoke truth. He didn't coddle those from whom much more was expected and never shied away from dealing with difficult people. This depiction of a reticent, faltering Jesus needs a fresh picture of the Jesus who endured the cross for the joy before Him. The same Lord who called Lazarus from the grave and took a meal with tax-collector Matthew also drove the money-changers from the temple complex. He is the Master who told people they were forgive and demanded that they go and sin no more. 

The fortress church of the seventies has become the church in retreat of the twenty- first century in great part because we, the preachers and leaders, have spoken this partial image of the One who disciplined Simon Peter, called James and John to account, and commanded the wind and waves to obey Him. His instructions for the church and the Kingdom aren't homely advice for living the stress-free life, but commands that should evoke instant obedience in us. He spoke truth to the simple people of the time, the religious maniacs and zealots, to the governor and to the religious officials who help the authority of life and death.

He loved them and loves us. He spoke to the first century culture and sent us to the world in the same way the Father sent Him (John 20:21) to flavor and light it. The image He used was salt, not sugar or sweeteners. To be His church in any age is to influence the times in whatever ways He modeled for us.

Any effort to be mega-, super-, or hyper- spiritual, more spiritual than Jesus, is just wrong. Jesus is Lord. The idea that He could be Savior and not Lord, absolute Master, is just flawed. To be like Him is our life goal, a promise that will only be realized when He moves us from this life to eternity.

The slave is not above the Master, or so The Book says. We're in dangerous territory when we pretend to be holier than Him.

The prayer for ambassadors in chains

Chains are a vivid symbol for believers. The Pauline epistles reference chains in several ways, figuratively, as an expression of our slavery to Christ, and as a stark picture of the Apostle's imprisonment. Both circumstances are instructive regarding how Christ's church should speak to the times.

Several years ago we studied use of the term "doulos" in Scripture. It is a biblical term often confused with "diakonos", both often translated "servant" in the various versions. Most of the recently translated versions render "doulos" as "bond slave".  It's a picture of a person in chains, a believer bought for a price, a Christian who obeys his Master, and seeks to please Him. The greats of redemptive history called themselves, or were referred to by others as, "duloi". As a result of our study I have several links of chain on my key ring. It is a constant reminder of being in chains to Christ. As His "bond slave" I am bound to Him and must obey Him. This is a element of my call, chains or not.

Silencing the messenger is believed to be an effective way of hindering the message. So, the Pharisees tried to silence Christ's disciples, the Sanhedrin arrested Peter and John and commanded them to stop speaking in Christ's name, and the Jewish leaders and Romans put the Apostle Paul in chains. His arrest, confinement, beatings, and imprisonment were all strategies to silence him and his message. The chains were more than metaphorical images in his mission. He planted house churches, wrote many of the epistles, preached in synagogues and markets, and appeared before government tribunals while in chains. The shackles were a norm for his ministry. He knew his words would be a stumbling block because they were gospel truth. In his mind, chains just went with speaking to the times. 

So, he prayed about them, and how Christ could speak through him in spite of the chains. To the church plant in Ephesus he wrote, "Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should" (Ephesians 6:19-20).

So, let's quibble. It's a valid point that Paul was asking for boldness in preaching the gospel. Obviously he was talking about evangelistic proclamation, asking for boldness is announcing salvation by grace through faith. Yet, there was always a political or social element in the gospel message. Emperor worshipers were no doubt highly offended by references to King Jesus or the Messiah of the Savior of the world. Just as clearly, gospel truth was about freedom, social and racial equality, pushing aside the norms of a highly stratified culture, challenging moral and ethical standards, establishing family accountability. and so many other issues of the day. Underneath is a picture of a man in chains praying for boldness that might being more chains, more persecution, more suffering. 

Here it is. Our concept of servant-hood is primarily "diakonos", symbolized by the towel of service. Chains and shackles are foreign and offensive, perhaps worse than the other words that make us wince---blood, nails, judgment, the wrath of God, hell, pain--- even "bond-slave".  So, the threat of chains may weaken our prayers for bold words, or the presence of restraints may silence us entirely.

Last year I was in Central Asia with a group from our church to begin the process of building a house church. One evening I prayed with the pastor of that new work and his wife. "How can I pray for you?", I asked. His answer was simple, direct, and fast. He said, "Pray that we do not become comfortable like the American church". Ouch! 

So, he lives in world where chains are possible every day. He knows his government could silence him any day through threats, court order, arrest, or confiscation of his personal property. But, he doesn't fear the chains. Why?

He's already wearing them. He's chained to his Master, Jesus the Lord. So, the chains of his government or culture don't intimidate him.

"For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ".
Galatians 1:10

The battle within

Someone once commented that its hard to fight an enemy that has an outpost in your head. Of course, this is true. Just the same, most of us know there's more than one fire- fight happening in our internal wars. The battle within is certainly spiritual war-fare. But, it happens on many fronts. Having the armor and weapons is just one part of a winning strategy. Being vigilant is another.

Assessing the spiritual condition of the nation isn't really so difficult. Us preachers usually observe what is happening around us and diagnose the glitch in our national psyche in a phrase: we've left God. That's a good generalization and most of us hold forth in righteous indignation when we proclaim it. Hooray for the brave hearts who stand strong and put it on the line week by week. But, move away from the broad brush characterizations of a nation already down the slippery slope and the going gets tougher. Here's where another skirmish catches us in a dangerous cross fire. Often we're just plain torn by the polarities of our calling---the caring pastor in one corner, the fire-breathing prophet in the other. Surely there's some compulsion to announce His judgment on the crooks in Washington, the loose morals of Hollywood, demon rum over on the corner, or the jack legs running the educational system. Then again, there's the pastoral heart---a fear of offending someone, crossing the moving lines of the supposed separation of church and state, being labeled negative, or worse, appearing intolerant. The "Jesus, Jesus meek and mild" myth that has been super-imposed over pastoral expectations kicks us to the side-lines and warns of us of being fire-brands, extremists, Lord help us, legalists.  

Yes, courage could be an issue here too. Talking social issues is a mine-field that we must navigate carefully. However, I really don't believe we've morphed into the most silent church in modern history simply as a result of fear. Sure, most minister types don't have stockpiles of cash or expect to win the lottery this weekend. Maybe it's not true but I heard you have to buy lottery tickets to win!!! Whatever! Payments have to be made, college tuition is around the corner, and the family must eat on occasion. So, there may be some fiscal incentives to skirt issues and land in the safety zone most of the time.

Spiritual spokespersons are called by God, I do pray. Underneath that calling is a reluctance to be a stumbling block to others, a desire to serve the constituency to what he or she is called, a strategic mind that must decide which mountain to die on, and at least a zeal for honoring His name. Usually this calling involves speaking the truth in love, surrounding our words with grace, proclaiming on what builds up and encourages the body, and a long list of biblical imperatives to guide our service. Being quick to listen and slow to speak is a guard, as is making sure what comes out of the mouth emits from a pure heart. Mostly, men of the cloth don't want to sew division or contention among the brethren, or confuse others. For the most part we want to "Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of freedom" (see James 2:12). Underneath reticence may be some spiritual expedience, and not simply fear. To call fellow pastors and mission servants a bunch of cowards might be a little much. Cowards don't do well in ministry.

Speaking to the times involves more than courage, an ear to what God is saying, or an eye to see the world coming apart at the seams. There's the spiritual unction thing too, the calling and gifting of God to influence the world around us in every way possible, including our words. Ours is a God who speaks. He directs His word through those chosen by Him to speak. And, therefore they---no, we---must speak.

Luke recorded an amazing comment by the Apostle Paul as he reached Rome, under guard and facing trial. When Peter and John faced a Jewish tribunal, a legal authority in their times, they declared, "...for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). Paul said, "Because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar..." (Acts 28:19). To the Corinthians Paul wrote,  "Woes is me if I do not preach the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:16). It appears the early days of the church were marked by a compulsion to speak truth to the culture.

So, what's the deal? Here's just one mans thoughts. I believe many men and women of God are muzzled by the people they serve, whether a congregation, para-church group, denomination, or mission organization. We certainly don't want to offend the giving base these days. Truth is today secondary to layers of considerations what make us walk a very straight line, avoiding turns to the left or to the right. It's the moral relativism of feet being firmly planted in mid-air and the fear that always accompanies such stances. 

"Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don't submit again to the yoke of slavery" (Colossians 5:1).

Stand firm.