In March 1992 at the Passion Play in Munster, Indiana, I officially became a Christian. I dedicated my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I vowed to give Him the same great zeal, attention and commitment that I’d given the enemy for the previous 32 years. I was a committed sinner, at one time. Well, it’s been 22 years and I have failed as much as I’ve succeeded, but I continue to give it a solid effort.
For all the years I’ve been a Christian, the one thing that has bothered me most has been the church. I have much more issue with saints than sinners. The lack of effort to even try to “walk the walk” has amazed me from the beginning. Talking the talk, I’ve witnessed, is rarely an issue. The walk is an entirely different matter. Even attempting to “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ,” 1 Corinthians 11:1, seems to be a thing of the past for most believers. They go the way of the world, live in accordance with social standards instead of God’s standards, and talk about grace and forgiveness. Holiness, a Bible principle, and “The Great Commission” so often seem to be lost.
I’m here, under the unction of the Holy Spirit, to say, it’s not OK. We are commanded, “He (Jesus) said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’” Mark 16:15. He also said, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me,” Matthew 10:34-38.
Our cross to bear is clearly opposition! Jesus promised us salvation, healing, prosperity, our children, and more. But He also promised us tribulation. Why? Because, as we preach His Gospel, we rock boats and offend others, just as He did. Remember what He allowed them to do to Him, for our sakes? We’re concerned about offending someone and having them leave our church or our lives. It may seem harsh, but these are trivial concerns. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17. These light afflictions included beatings, stonings, imprisonments, and many other forms of persecution. We need to think about that when someone won’t eat lunch with us or stops calling because we took a stand for the Word of God, the Truth.
Most recently, my concern and dismay is with the “Seeker Friendly” movement in the church. For those who are unfamiliar the term seeker friendly, it is an attempt by Christians and churches to draw in unbelievers and not to “offend” anyone with their message. Don’t speak against fornication (safe, unmarried sex), adultery, the gay lifestyle, etc., because everyone’s doing it and you will offend them to the point that they won’t come to church. In other words, consider the Ten Commandments, and any other offensive commands in the Word, unmentionables.
A few years ago we experienced this first-hand in our own church. It began with a push to draw more people. The congregation grew slowly and, with any influx of people, comes the influx of the eccentric. Just a little truth I’ve learned. Yes, we called to love all men. But we are not called to tolerate all behavior, and neither did Jesus.
In this case, a woman began coming every Sunday. She immediately headed for the front row, to sit next to the Pastor and his family. During worship she trembled and fell on the floor regularly. Unfortunately, not moved by the power of the Holy Spirit, but motivated by her own need for attention. Week after week she arrived early, took her seat on the front row, and performed for the crowd. During the sermon she yelled and shook. She also began inviting women to Bible studies at her home and even worked the lobby to invite congregants to her own Easter Communion service, after the church Communion service. “Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray,” Proverbs 10:17.
For months this went on, with the Pastor assuring the staff, elders and concerned members that she needed to be reached and correction would only offend. In response, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching,” 2 Timothy 4:2.
Eventually, after months of pressure from the staff and others, including us, and after she had vibrated in the face of a guest speaker’s wife, Pastor spoke with her and told her that the front row would now be reserved for staff and their family members. She became irate and left the church. Pastor saw this as a failure, even though he had been warned by other pastors that she had disrupted at least five churches in the area and, when corrected, left each one. She proceeded to disrupt through members she had reached during her time there. A few left the church with her. I believe, if she had been dealt with sooner, the damage would not have been as widespread.
There were other instances, including a long-time member who was tired of waiting in a prayer line and began to yell his displeasure as he walked out of the sanctuary. Pastor called him back and put him at the front of the line, so that he wouldn’t be upset. Another long-time member repeatedly arrived late, headed for her usual seat on the front row, and demanded that anyone who had taken the seat move when she arrived. The staff rule did not apply to her. Eventually, one Sunday, the guest speaker and his wife had been seated there and she had no issue with telling them to move. She was not reprimanded, because she was a widow and thus was already upset.
Also, the women’s ministry, where I was involved, began to allow non-members to speak at meetings, in an effort not to offend. After a short absence in which I’d missed a few weeks, I returned to find several unfamiliar women speaking at the monthly meeting. The topics were completely unbiblical and, in one case, far past crazy. I approached the Pastor’s wife, questioning the craziness in particular. She assured me that everything was fine and they didn’t want to offend the staff member who was newly in charge of the group. I was told that she was learning to lead. “Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory,” Proverbs 11:14.
This was only the start. We stayed and, with so many others, prayed and attempted to talk to our Pastor about the path the church was taking, away from the Gospel, and into mass disruption. When it was announced that several trusted members of the board were leaving, we prayed and were also released. Eventually the cross was removed, and the need for repentance and forgiveness was no longer shared. Most of the faithful, to the Lord and, at one time, to the Pastors, continued to pray, but left the church. Although the congregation grew, the church struggled financially. Giving could not be offered in the message because it was offensive. Finally, after about two years, the Pastor left the ministry, discouraged and destitute.
This is what I learned from that experience and others. The Gospel is offensive. Jesus rocked not only the boat, but the world and continues still today. The problem with the world today is a politically correct culture that is more concerned with offense than truth. The schools have taken a “don’t offend anyone with failure” attitude and test scores have plummeted. Counseling has taken a, pat of the back, “it’s alright,” and “it’s not your fault” stance, and more people are on medication for their mental and emotional health than ever before. Pacifying people obviously does not get them healed! Codependence is a problem, not an answer.
If the church follows that same path, how do we stand out? How do we incite change? This culture doesn’t need another politically correct, offence-free entity. It needs a shaking. The lost need, and seek for, their boat to be rocked. We need to stand out, not fit in. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will,” Romans 12:2.
Let’s think for a minute about what does, indeed, incite change. Years ago, when a young man was continually in trouble, judges often offered “jail or the military.” Granted, there were instances when the trouble followed them. But, in the majority of cases, the structure of the military was just what the doctor ordered. The drastic change, the mandatory compliance, was exactly what was needed to rock their boats and straighten them out. I personally know of two cases where that structure was the answer. Unfortunately the practice no longer exists, due to the few cases where the trouble continued.
We might wonder why this worked. The answer is simple. These men, boys in many cases, had plenty of buddies. People who told them that their behavior was acceptable or it wasn’t their fault. The military forces enlistees to take responsibility for their own behavior. They teach them how to act and, for so many, no one ever did.
In other examples, we can look at the prison system. The only programs that statistically have rehabilitation success are Biblically-based and offer in-your-face truth. Results prove, inmates have enough buddies, they need professional guidance that demands respect, not another friend. Mercy Ministries, which focuses on rehabilitating young girls, has off-the-chart results, for the same reason. They are Biblically-based, love the girls, but do not tolerate any of the behavior that landed the girls there in the first place. The staff demands respect for themselves and for each girl in residence. They teach them how to act.
In my estimation, that’s the role of the church. The world sees us as hypocrites, because so many of us are. The fact that so many lost in the world know about Christians that don’t walk the walk is proof that they’re watching us. They are looking to the church! But what they’re seeing is not what they’re hearing.
I believe the Pastor is in place to teach us how to act, according to the Word of God. That does not mean that he (or she) is perfect, and they are bound to offend if they are fulfilling their role. As the authority in the church, if he or she preaches the Word “as written,” they are destined to be offensive.
I look at the Pastor as the “Dad” of the congregation. His job is to teach us how to act, according to the Bible. When one of the kids gets out of line, for their own good and the good of the rest of the family, his job is to correct them in a loving manner. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11. If one of the kids refuses to comply with the rules, he should be asked to leave, for the sake of the family. “If your brother wrongs you, go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed and upheld by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he pays no attention to them [refusing to listen and obey], tell it to the church (the family); and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a pagan and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven,” Matthew 18:15-18.
My hope in writing is to inspire and motivate the church to walk the walk. Again, I am the first to admit that I miss the mark and sin, possibly daily. But my goal and my heart’s desire are to please the Lord. If I offend some humans on that path, I don’t apologize, if He is pleased. It is not my goal to offend, and I do not like confrontation, but “Amen” (So Be It!).
We have found an awesome church, with a “bold and courageous” Pastor (Dad). He preaches the Word of God without apology. He boldly preaches right and wrong, from a Biblical standpoint. I have no doubt that he would correct me if he found it necessary, for my sake and my husband’s, as well as the congregation’s. I welcome his rebuke. I cannot walk this path and reach my goal without it. “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice,” Proverbs 12:15.
We are called to live a life that stands out to the world around us. “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit,” 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8.
I’ve heard years and years of teaching in the past 22, and a wise friend taught me, “chew the meat and throw away the bones.” I’ve been a vegetarian for more than 30 years, but it’s still good advice. I’ve taken something valuable with me from many teachers. Pastor Robb Thompson once said, “When someone criticizes you, before you defend yourself, stop and think. Is this something I need to change in my life?” That is great advice and it changed my life. Is there something you need to change? Are you living a Holy life, pleasing to the Lord? Are you a witness for Him, or do you blend? Are you bold and courageous?
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death,” Revelation 21:8. Believers have the answer to a lost and dying world. They are the light to those who are lost and will be doomed in the end. Are you sharing the answer? “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10. At the judgment seat of Christ, we believers will answer for what we’ve done in the body. John Bevere once opened my eyes when he taught that we’d also have to answer for the things we haven’t done. The things the Spirit has led us, individually, to do. Not sharing the truth that we know is not alright.
“A true friend is one who will risk the relationship to correct you in a fault,” Pastor Robb Thompson. An awesome truth and the type of friend I want, and want to be.