Whirled Views with Dan Burrell

From time to time, a secularist or a liberal will make a snide remark to me about religious charity and Christian giving. It sometimes goes like this, “If you conservative Christians or the Religious Right really cared about people, you’d worry less about abortion and more about feeding the hungry.” If at some point, I can get beyond their cynical pettiness and convuluted thinking, I reply that “if Christians were to stop giving suddenly, every major charitable agency in the country from the Salvation Army to the Red Cross would hear a giant sucking sound (with apologies to Ross Perot) as they hit the bottom of their cash reserves in short order.

While eating lunch today, I found some interesting research that validates my retort.

Families who attend religious services weekly give 112% more than those who do not. Evangelicals contribute an average of $3,250 to their church, while Catholics give $547. Overall the average per year is $895 per donor. Religious groups received 36% of 2004 donations, while education received 14%. (As cited by ACSI)

So the next time a liberal secularist makes a crude implication or a phony inference about how you should be spending YOUR money, ask if they’d like to compare their end-of-the-year charitable giving total with that of religious folk.

Most evangelical Christians are familiar with a custom of our cultural that is really not mentioned in Scripture, but is part of our spiritual heritage known as the Altar Call. Also sometimes called the Invitation or Decision Time, it is a time set aside in the service, generally at the conclusion of the sermon, when people are invited to make commitments, spend time in prayer and seek prayer and counsel at the front of the church at a bench or often the steps to the platform which is referred to as the altar.

I have public invitations at many of our services and believe it is a good thing. But whether or not your church utilizes a time of public commitment, I sometimes fear that we are not taking action in any form to that which we hear preached or taught.

I often remind our church that spiritual carnality is the result of an over-exposure and under-response to the truth.

How many of us have heard the Word of God taught with clarity and passion, only to be relieved with the sermon was over and without giving much additional thought to the message proclaimed, begin making dinner or recreation plans as the service draws to a close. Im afraid we are missing the point. God tells us that we are not to be mere hearers of the Word, but doers also. Doing begins when we make a commitment to change or transform or yield to the truth of Scripture.

Too many Christians like our sermons short, preachers funny, but not pointed, our lessons practical without imposing and puhlease dont keep us too long. Consumerism has so invaded and pervades the church today that most people approach the message, if not the entire worship hour, with a “what’s-in-it-for-me” attitude.

We are surrounded today by all kinds of religious messages, forms of communication, venues of worship and instruction, outlets of media and infotainment. And yet, so many struggle with a daily, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. One Christian thinker pointed out, There is nothing so spiritually deadening as constantly handling the outside of religious things.

Perhaps it is time we stop and ask ourselves if we are still responding to the truth of the Word of God. Are we sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit as He calls us to repentance and righteousness? When was the last time that you, under the moving of the Holy Spirit, left your seat and made a public and personal decision to respond to the Lords leading or a directive of Scripture? Do you ever take time to search your heart with the convicting discernment of the Holy Spirit as the final hymn is being sung? Do we ever just pause and let God speak to us before we rush back to our busy lives?

Too many of our churches have hard hearts filling church pews. We make spiritual decisions rarely and often only if someone has managed to hit the right combination of emotional buttons. We look at church services as times of inspiration and information rather than worship and transformation. Our focus is too often directed at the preacher and preaching or worship leader and singing than at the Lord.

When we attend church, WE are not the audience..God is. We are not the center of attention. He must be. We are not the players. He is. And we need to allow His Word to plow the hardness of our hearts and to reveal the shallowness of our faith so that we can respond with transparency and humility.

Maybe if that happened in churches across the country, wed start seeing more souls saved, marriages salvaged, lives restored and discipleship occurring. Perhaps thered be less gossip and more growth. Maybe thered be less cynicism and more sacrifice. We might enjoy sweeter fellowship and less self-centeredness.

The next time your pastor begins to close his sermon, why dont you stop and ask God, What did you want me to hear today? and then just be still and let Him speak to you. I think if we all did that there would be more tears on our cheeks and fewer hardened hearts in the pews.

The Bush Administration woke up last week to discover that after years of working with one terrorist organization in Palestine, an even worse terrorist organization had won power in a surprise electoral upset as the radical Palestinian political movement “Hamas” upset the ruling Fatah party which consisted of a moderate brand of Middle Eastern terrorism (This was the party of Yassar Arafat in case you’d forgotten). This is a glaring example of why Democracy is not the panacea for peace in the Middle East that many in the neo-con world of Washington think that it is.

It is simply impossible for democracy to work in a positive way without the presence of a moral and upright people. John Adams once said, Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics. A nation cannot be governed in a democracy if the people are not first self-governed and evil people will consistently refuse to govern themselves instead, they will elect equally evil leadership.

Yassar Arafat was a terrorist. Few in Washington had the moral courage to say it out loud, but it is an indisputable fact. He loathed Israel until the day he died. He either lacked the will to crush Hamas, feared them too much or secretly sympathized with them, but make no mistake under his leadership Hamas continued to flourish and the soul of Israel is reddened by the blood of hundreds who were blown into eternity by fanatics who, until their last breath, believed that Jews have no right to exist and that killing them is a noble act.

This version of Islamic Extremism is deeply engrained across the Middle East. Were it not for the strength of the House of Sahd, Saudia Arabia would be in their clutches. Egypts Mubarek has also kept them somewhat at bay. Syria is dominated by the Extremists. Listen to the words of Irans radical President and again, you will see a duly-elected terrorist leading a nation which is perilously close to a nuclear bomb and which has as a national policy a determination that Israel has no right of existence (as does Hamas). Does anyone remember Afghanistans Taliban Extremists Muslims again.

The devotees of this brand of dangerous Islam are legion and there is every reason to believe that if one were to establish real democracies in many of these nations, they would chose to elect for themselves, leaders who are terrorists, extremists and despots bent on the destruction of Israel and the West.

While President Bush and State Department officials were donning their rose-colored glasses for another round of peace negotiations which ended up with Israel giving away their land to these terrorists, Muslim clerics were busily recruiting another generation of like-minded radicals which not only were willing to strap on explosive-laden backpacks, but which were mobilizing for political takeover as well. The purchased influence from the masses by providing welfare and healthcare funded by the donations of filthy oil barons made ridiculously wealthy by the Wests need for energy. (And let us pause here and reflect on the continued success the Democrats and environmental extremists have had in preventing further oil exploration and drilling in Alaska while our very economy is held hostage to these people.)

American and Western democracy has been successful because principled people who have largely been committed to absolute standards of natural law and commandments rooted in Scripture have elected leadership that reflects their values. Good people elect good leadership. Evil people elect evil leadership. Its really not complicated.

Only fools believe that evil people influenced by evil ideas will somehow miraculously convert to peace-loving people who have a respect for the rule of law when they enter the polling booth.

It is because democracy is a two-edged sword capable of elevating either the good or the wicked to leadership that we must recognize that the hope of America is not found in politics, but through the preaching of the Word of God from holy pulpits. Changed hearts, changed lives and changed values are what will drive a nation to elect good and godly leadership. It is far more important for America to be sending Christian missionaries that teach the absolute and unchanging standard of Scripture than it is to play diplomatic footsie with people who are, at their core, despisers of that which is good and Godly.

Democracy is not the answer to this worlds problems. The Word of God Jesus and Scripture is the answer.

We had a great week-end at Northside this week-end. I heard that over 50 people watched our webcast on its second week and we are just beginning to advertise it! We had a great spirit in both our morning services as I spoke from Titus 1:1-4. (You can watch the celebration service here.)

Last night, I was able to do some training with around 50 of our Bible Fellowship Teachers. I thought the fact that the Carolina Panthers were playing during the evening hour, there would be a light turnout. I was wrong I cant see that it affected us one bit which makes me proud of our folks not letting a football game change their pattern of worship and training. As it turns out, they didnt miss much anyway.but theres always next year!

Ive had a few folks ask me about the hullabaloo around the newly released movie End of the Spear which is the story of martyrdom of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint and three other missionaries in the Amazon jungle fifty years ago. It was recently revealed that one of the lead actors in the movie is Chad Allan an open homosexual and an advocate of radical homosexual causes. The company that produced the movie ETE Productions (Every Tribe Entertainment) is a self-described Christian entertainment country allegedly designed to promote cinema and other entertainment opportunities which would have a Christian worldview. Additional questions arose questioning the lack of a clear presentation of the gospel in the movie.

People I respect and admire have rallied others around their disappointment in ways that range from letters of question or condemnation to pseudo-boycotts. This all seems to have come to a head in the last few weeks. Now for my part in the saga.

A couple of years ago, Steve Saint, son of one of the martyred missionaries Nate Saint spoke at the Shepherds Conference at Grace Community Church (John MacArthur). One of my dearest friends and others who were there told me that Steves testimony was electrifying and challenging. On somewhat of a lark, I decided to contact Steve to see if he would be willing to come to Northside as a keynote speaker for our Global Outreach Conference which we hold the last week in February. To be my delight, he accepted an invitation and will be speaking at our Celebration Services on the last Sunday in February. I had no idea at the time that a movie was being made, that Steve would release a book by the same title or that there would be any unusual attention on his sttendance other than that garnered from his personal story.

I am delighted that Steve will be in our services in February. I have not, for a second, entertained any thought that I wouldnt be anything but delighted or that I would make any changes in our plans. I have not seen the movie, but I have every intention of doing so. My friends who have seen the movie have told me it is wonderful, powerful and stirring. In fact, Ive been amazed at how they and others have discovered that folks who have seen the movie, upon finding that Steve is scheduled to come to our church, have indicated that they plan on coming to hear his story personally. It looks like many will attend services that day just to hear and meet him some that are unchurched and unsaved.

What are my feelings on the controversy? Let me sum them up briefly.

1. Im generally not surprised when unbelievers act like unbelievers. Therefore, it really doesnt surprise me to find out that Chad Allen is gay any more than it surprised me that a Catholic portrayed Jesus, that it was rumored that one of the player in the Passion was gay or that divorce or promiscuity is rampant among the vast majority of actors and actresses.

2. Im disappointed that Every Tribe Entertainment lacked the discernment evidenced by their decision to hire a homosexual activist to portray an evangelical folkhero. It either shows an appalling deafness to how many conservative Christians think or a disturbing absence of wisdom and discretion.either way, its really quite a blunder. But again, most people wrapped up in the Hollywood culture are not known for their possession of a keen sense of moral absolutes.

3. I think Steve Saints comments regarding Chad Allen were the gracious words of someone who knows he cant change what has already occurred, but at the same time recognizes that he might have the opportunity to reach someone who is obviously not a real follower of Jesus Christ. What would he have gained had he made a big stink about this? On the other hand, do you think hell be able to talk and converse with Mr. Allen due to his gentle response? It kind of reminds me of the times when Jesus spoke to the woman at the well in Sychar or to the woman caught in adultery.

4. A movie is just that a movie. A portrayal by people pretending to be people that they usually have never met and certainly do not know if the person they are portraying ever existed at all. Its fantasy, acting, imagination. Its NOT a sermon. Its not Scripture. Its not Truth. Call me simple, but I dont watch movies expecting them to be true. I do enjoy them for their entertainment value and their ability to provoke thought and conversations but rarely more than that. I felt that way about the Passion and I feel that way about The End of the Spear. Its just a movie.

5. I love and appreciate people who want to take stands on moral issues, cultural trends and other issues. But I also think that we at times tend to be reactionary and at times excessive in our rhetoric. I dont think Jason Janz (the individual who first and best made this situation public in the blogosphere) has been rhetorically excessive. I think he makes a valid point. I think communicating his thoughts to ETE was a wise thing to do. Beyond that, I dont know that it matters all that much.

That said, I plan on seeing the movie. Im very much looking forward to Steve Saints visit to our church. I was touched as a boy by the books written about these martyrs and I hope my children will be touched as well. Everyone who knows me or our church knows where we stand on homosexuality. That said, I hope and believe that Chad Allen will be called by the Holy Spirit to repentance better by our love and gentle, but straight words of truth more readily than through a good sound thrashing by over-wrought rhetoric. Speaking the Truth in love is an effective strategy and it also happens to be Biblical.

On other topics

For NorthsidersIm a little ticked off at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for having successfully recruited our beloved Director of Food Services from our ministry to join theirs. They tried to do so a couple of years ago and were unsuccessful. Unfortunately, this time they were. Stephen will be enjoying a significantly lighter work load in his new spot and were happy for the changes that will foster for him and his wife. Were still looking forward to his ministry to us at the organ and in other ways across the Northside campus.

Again for Northsiderswere all looking forward to a fun time Saturday as we groom out the road bed for our new connection roads which will be part of our major parking lot reconstruction project this year. If you havent let us know you are going to be helping out, please call the church switchboard right away. If you want to bring tools, we suggest rakes, perhaps some wheelbarrows, gloves, lopping shears and light chainsaws (only if you are experienced using them). Youll want to wear work boots as well as it is a bit muddy back in the woods. Well have biscuits in the a.m. and lunch a little after noon.

Today marks the anniversary of the infamous Roe vs. Wade anniversary.one of the darkest days in American history. The blood of 40 million babies cries for relief from the abortion mills of this country. An entire generation of young people with potential, souls and individual gifts has been lost forever. Lets pray that new Supreme Court Justices Roberts and Alito take a stand for life in the future and that drifting and weak-willed Justices like Justice Kennedy realize that they have a responsibility to protect the lives of the pre-born. I hope that every adoptive parent will join me in thanking the Lord for those birthmothers who chose life for their infants and have graced so many Christian homes with beautiful children.

Im out of time for tonight, but will try to update this blog as possible in the coming week.

Its Monday and Im back in Boston. Last fall, I was asked to join the Board of Trustees of Boston Baptist College. If youll recall, I teach here each January and actually wrote a few articles a couple of weeks ago from Beantown. In all honesty, I have a LOT on my plate right now and I was a little hesitant to agree to be a part of another college board. I already sit on several and I dont want to spread myself to thin.

But Boston Baptist is such a unique school in such a needy part of the country that I simply had no peace about saying no. My friend and peer, David Melton, just recently assumed the Presidency of BBC and I have several good friends and colleagues who are also on the faculty and administration.

I would simply say this as I get ready to enter into 3 days of meetings with them, if you have a passion for seeing young men and women prepared to minister in one of the most important parts of the world, you should check out Boston Baptist. Ive worked there, visited there and have sent young people there. It is unique among Christian colleges on multiple levels. But its small fewer than 200 students on a modest campus nestled in the old Hyde Part of Boston. They arent affiliated with a church. They dont have any deep-pocket benefactors. If you send them $50 a month or write them a check for $1,000, it matters like it would in few colleges of which I know. Id encourage any readers of this blog to contact me (dburrell@northsidebapt.org) if youd like more information on how you could support this school financially. If you are a pastor, Id give serious consideration to supporting this college in my monthly budget. (Individuals could do this also.) Vist their website at www.boston.edu. Consider giving them a one-time gift or finding out a specific need that they might have which you could fill (for example they are constructing a new dormitory for 32 students which will need furnishing). Assisting their student scholarship fund is another way to be a practical blessing to both the school and a student. Boston Baptist is not a liberal arts college It is specifically for those preparing for ministry. As such, they are largely ineligible for government support, grants from most charitable organizations and outside funding.

New England was once a launching point for the Gospel. Today, it is a mission field where few people go to church and fewer people are actually believers. Im consistently challenged as I teach there at how the vast majority of the students enrolled there have as their goal staying in New England and planting churches or ministering in other ways right in their own front yard.

Im actually jotting these notes as I am in flight from Charlotte. I understand that several inches of newly fallen snow await my arrival. It was in the 70s in Charlotte last week. But Im glad to be going to a place that is warm to training young people and I hope youll pray for and support in any other way in which the Lord leads you, Boston Baptist College

BTW.David promised us a trip to the Harvard Faculty Club this week as it was closed when I was there earlier this month. Ill let you know if I get to go.

Hopefully, you’ll be at a live worship service at a good Bible-teaching church tomorrow, but if your work or illness won’t allow it (or if you are in a Western time zone), don’t forget to stop by our live internet stream of the celebration service of Northside Baptist Church at 10:30 Eastern Time. You can access the correct page on our website by clicking HERE.

Recently, during our Wednesday WOW services, I’ve started a Bible Study which takes us through the Book of Haggai. Haggai is one of those little books (it’s only two chapters) that we often blitz through without fully comprehending everything that God is saying in it. I mean, what great life-altering lessons can we learn from someone names “Haggai”, for pete’s sake?

In Haggai, the people were dealing with famine, economic hardship and external threats because while God had recalled them to Jerusalem to rebuild his Temple, instead they had built ornate and sophisticated houses for themselves while the Temple project languished from inattention. Haggai calls the people to obedience and points out their lack of obedience has resulted in a loss of blessings.

For those who (mistakenly) think that only the experiences of the New Testament apply to today’s believers, I’d point you to the book of Acts. Again, one of the first lessons in this record is simply this — Don’t expect blessings if you aren’t obedient. Or perhaps more succinctly one can say, “Blessings follow obedience.”

The opening scenes in the Book of Acts tells us that the disciples left the place of Christ’s ascension and went to the upper room which was about a “Sabbath’s Day Journey” to await the coming of the Holy Spirit. A Sabbath Day’s journey was the maximum distance one was permitted to travel on the Sabbath under rabbinic law. It was two thousand cubits or about one-half to three-quarters of a mile.

They went to an upper room which was a common part of the residential architecture at that time. These top floor assembly areas were used for everything from guest houses to celebration halls. This one must have been part of a rather large house, because it held at least one-hundred-twenty people.

By returning to Jerusalem, they were obeying the directive Christ had given them. If the disciples, energized by the repeated appearances of Christ had run off to begin their ministry at this point, they would have fallen on their faces. They would have been absent of the most important ingredient of their ministry - the Power of God. This is where we find the tremendous lesson in this passage: Obedience precedes blessings. If they were to enjoy the power of God on their lives and ministry, they first had to obey him by returning to Jerusalem and waiting for the promised visitation.

I wonder how many of us are powerless in our Christian living and ministries because we presume that God will bless us in spite of our disobedience. Even more preposterous, we get frustrated with God because He doesn’t accede to our demands while we ignore His. It is the height of arrogance for a Christian to anticipate God’s blessing while living in disobedience.

Biblical obedience really isn’t all that complicated. There are several characteristics that stand out to us through the example of Scripture.

First, it is current - Immediate, not when it is convenient or when we are convinced that we “should” obey. Jonah thought that he would or could obey God whenever it was convenient for him. Indeed, he took flight and went in the opposite direction after having received a directive from the Lord. Of course, we know it caused him to eventually have to endure a rather uncomfortable journey in the belly of a great fish. I’m sure he would have been quite the advocate for immediate obedience after that trip!

Biblical obedience is also complete obedience. Partial obedience is disobedience. Do you remember how Saul lost the blessing of God on his Kingdom? It was when he willfully chose to ignore a portion of God’s command to totally wipe out His enemies. Instead, he partially fulfilled his task and saved some of the royal family and some of the livestock. As a result, God’s prophet declared him a “rebel” and announced that God was “repenting” of making him King over Israel. From that point forward, Saul was little more than a lame duck. In God’s economy, partial obedience is no obedience.

It is also contented obedience. Have you ever watched someone obey through gritted teeth? They may be obedient, but they aren’t happy about it. When we obey with a wrong spirit, we lose the blessing of Biblical obedience. Once again, Jonah provides a good example of this. God used him to bring about the greatest revival a civilization might have ever seen as the wicked Assyrian Ninevites repented of their sin and God spared their lives. Jonah’s response was bitterness, anger and discontent. Our last image of Jonah throughout Scripture is an unhappy man sulking in the desert heat asking God to kill him. Wow! Did he ever lose HIS blessing?

God never asks of us what we cannot perform or give. He is not limited by what we lack. He simply asks that we be willing to obey.

Let’s not lose our blessings by refusing to obey the Word of God and the Spirit’s call in our own lives.

I enjoy biographies and recently I read an account of the martyrdom of Polycarp in one of John MacArthur’s commentaries that inspired and challenged me. Many of us have heard of one of the seven original churches in Asia Minor located in Smyrna. Smyrna is located about 65 miles north of Ephesus. Today it is still a city of a couple hundred thousand. During this time it was known for producing the ointment Myrrh. It was a beautiful city and it was the heart of Emperor worship being extremely loyal to Rome. The church at Smyrna was a persecuted church.

Polycarp was a bishop in the church and lived to be eighty-six years old. Christians were considered “Atheists” because they did not worship the myriad gods of the Greeks. The Romans, who ruled the world at that time, recognized the pagan gods of Greece and even the Jewish religion, but at that time, they did not recognize Christianity in any form. In an act of hatred toward the Christians, the leadership at Smyrna demanded that something be done about Polycarp - this influential Christian.

They began a search for Polycarp. He didn’t want to run away, but was finally persuaded to do so by follow church members. He stayed with friends who were a short distance from the city. The government began looking for him throughout the countryside, but he had managed to slip away from house to house. Finally, the pursuers found two teenage boys and began torturing them looking for information about Polycarp. Eventually, one of the boys broke and confessed that he knew where he was and told them. They took the boy with them because their plan was to make Polycarp play the role of Christ by executing him and they would make this teen undergo the punishment of Christ’s betrayer, which was done by hanging.

When they finally caught up with Polycarp, he might still have escaped, but he chose not to flee any more but to accept his fate. While the early church did not yield to the spiritual authority of the government, they did yield to their civil authority as we are commanded to do in the Scriptures. When they found him, he offered them a meal and asked for an hour to pray. For the next two hours, he prayed and in the small house in which he was staying he could be heard by everyone in it. So fervent were his prayers that some of those who had come to take him away began to repent that they had come against so godly an old man.

He was taken back to Smyrna. The local leader met him and tried to persuade him to declare Caesar as Lord and to sacrifice and to observe the ceremonies that worshipped Caesar as Lord. At first he was silent, but finally he said he wouldn’t do it.

After that, they turned on him and threw him out of the chariot so fiercely that they dislocated his leg. But he walked of his own power into the stadium.
Once in the stadium, the people were screaming for bloodshed in a scene reminiscent of today’s all-star wrestling venues. Again he was urged to recant. Still he refused. He said, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior? I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn what the doctrines of Christianity are, appoint me a day, and thou shalt hear them. ”

The proconsul then threatened to release wild animals on them to which Polycarp replied, “Call them then, for we are not accustomed to repent of what is good in order to adopt that which is evil: and it is well for me to be changed from what is evil to what is righteous.” So the proconsul upped it even more and threatened him with being burned at the stake to which Polycarp replied, “Thou threatenest me with fire which burnethfor an hour and after a little is extinguished, but art ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. But why tarriest thou? Bring forth what thou wilt.”

They then burned him at the stake.

Polycarp was faithful to the end. May we each aspire to such a testimony.

Everytime I mentioned Rick Warren in a blog entry, it seems to stir folks up. Never one to hide from controversy stirred by my opinions, I oddly sometimes hesitate to publicly post my growing discomfort and frustration with the post-best-seller version of Rick Warren who, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, is being labeled by some as “America’s Pastor” — set to assume the national position and prestige of Billy Graham. I do not want to be viewed as an “Anti-Warrenian” as some who inevitably respond to my printed concerns insinuate. But neither can I ignore some most-egregious examples of what I’ve previously described as a “Messiah Complex” when it comes to public statements Warren has been making of late.

In the Inquirer’s ongoing series on Evangelicalism, Rick Warren was featured in an article on the “Purpose-Driven Pastor.” As I’ve stated, I’m not an anti-Rick Warren crusader who sees no good in anything he’s written or done and relishes everything negative I can find on him or Saddleback. I’ve been to Saddleback twice, I’ve read Warren’s books, I have friends who attend there and acquaintances on staff there. We use some of the principles of Purpose-Driven Church in our ministry. As with everything else I find in broader Christendom, I’ve appreciated the Biblical liberty I have to eat the meat and spit out the bones as I’ve had to do with so many other books, trends, sermons and movements. Discernment should prevent us from becoming blind sychophants and it should also permit us to see and appreciate the gifts that God has given him. Warren is no more the False Prophet of the Anti-Christ than is any other pastor or spiritual leader who gets swept up in his own pride or wanders unintentionally into something that is philosophically unsound. Always — Always, we should examine every one who would say “Thus saith the Lord” from the foundation of Scripture — both in word and deed.

With that said, I can’t begin to express my aggravation and disappointment with what appears to be a direct quote from Warren in the Philadelphia Inquirer article.

Here’s what it said…

Warren predicts that fundamentalism, of all varieties, will be “one of the big enemies of the 21st century.”

“Muslim fundamentalism, Christian fundamentalism, Jewish fundamentalism, secular fundamentalism - they’re all motivated by fear. Fear of each other.”

The reasons for offense are myriad.

First, to lump fundamentalist Christianity into the same pile of heresy as Muslim, secular and other “fundamentalism” is ignorant and dishonest. Such a shocking overstatement is intellectually offensive. It puts Warren squarely in the league of rhetorical excess as demonstrated by Ray Nagin, Hillary Clinton and Pat Robertson. And thus, he owes broader fundamental Christianity an apology for such an egregiously outrageous statement.

If he doesn’t understand the differences between Christian fundamentalism which is based on an absolutist worldview that Truth is God and God is Truth and found in the Living Word of God (Jesus) and the written Word of God (the Bible) and the beliefs of any other religion, philosophy or worldview which rejects that Absolute Standard, then he needs to be quiet. It’s better to be silent on subjects wherein one is ignorant than to elocute foolishly and be found a fool.

The Battle for Truth is the single most important battle that has ever been waged. It’s first shot in Creation was fired in Eden and it rages to this day. To imply that Fundamental (Orthodox) Christianity is tantamount to orthodox Islam, Judaism or Secularism is profoundly absurd. They are polar opposites theologically. Whereas the “middle ground” may be acceptable in politics, social relationships and personal preferences, it is the broad way to destruction spiritually. As I often say, “Compromise is the lifeblood of politics, but it is the deathknell of theology.” Truth matters. It is the foundation on which everything else is anchored.

Beyond that, to simplistically reduce fundamentalism to a position motivated by or based upon fear is equally absurd.

First, fear is not always a “bad thing.” Lose the fear of pain or death and people will be jumping off buildings, driving 180 miles an hour on curvy roads and playing Russian Roulette with impunity. The Scripture tells us that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” It is the fool who refuses to fear God and the consequences of ignoring His Truth.

Secondly, one cannot comprehend fear if he is not aware of security. If you love flowers, you hate weeds. If peace is important to you, then conflict and war should disturb you. Fear is what we should feel when we ignore or reject Truth.

Finally, fundamentalist Christianity is not simply about fear. To say such a thing would be the equivalent of saying that people who prefer a sonata played by a concert pianist over the random plunkings of a toddler are motivated by “fear”. Fear is not what should motivate us as much as it is the consequence of knowing truth and then examining our own depraved condition in light of that truth. I should be scared spitless at the thought of standing in judgment before a righteous and holy God. But equally powerful is the love that same God extended toward me through the sacrificial and vicarious death of His Son. The love rescues me from fear. The person riding in a car down a road where a bridge has been destroyed knows no fear in his ignorance. But those who understand the devastating impact of sin, the complete inability of man to save himself and the inevitability of death and eternity should indeed have a fearful response to his impending destruction. Thus, the light of God’s love shows us a narrow and singular escape from our destruction — complete and total submission to His plan for our salvation through Jesus Christ.

Warren’s attempt to smugly and neatly stereotype all forms of fundamentalism into one common package is just wrong. Once again, we see an iconclastic spiritual “guru” hop onto the infallibility of his own perceived authority and say something confusingly stupid. Like so many others before him, Robertson, Graham, Schuller and others, he missed an opportunity to make a clear and bold statement for the gospel by attempting to ingratiate himself to the masses and the media. He (and they) should know better.

But this can serve as a warning to all of us pastor-types and even some of us bloggers. Words matter. Thus we should speak slowly and carefully. Think about the implications of our statements. Strive for humility. And when we get it wrong — quickly and forcefully admit and correct our error.

To some, this post will seem self-serving. Such a response would be cynical and after struggling with the thought that some might misunderstand what I’m about to address, I’ve decided to go ahead and write about it.

Have you ever considered that shepherds sometimes hurt?

By shepherd, I mean pastors. The guys who stand before congregations large and small several times a week trying to share a Biblical Truth that will take root in the hearts of those who listen. The one who marries and buries people. The one who misses family events so that he can be there when you need him. He listens to your problems and prays with you and cries with you. He sits in his office late at night praying that God will inspire him to preach one more sermon, solve one more problem, write one more lesson, carry one more burden even though he feels empty and drained.

This week, I’ve heard from a pastor who was attacked by his best friend. I corresponded with one who has a child who is absolutely breaking his heart. I’ve left messages for a young man who wants to be a pastor and whose child is fighting a life-threatening illness. I’ve prayed for three different men in the ministry whose depression gets so bad that they can barely get out of bed some days. I listened as a bi-vocational pastor shared his dream to buy an abandoned old building in a major metropotian area and which is one of only two properties even remotely available to use as a church — asking price? $12 million. I learned of a missionary who has lost 50% of his support since his last furlough. I know of several pastors whose wives are struggling with cancer. I regularly hear from pastors who have a member, or a small contingent of disgruntled folks, who are bent on forcing them to quit often using tactics that would make the mob blush. These guys are broken, frightened, have young families and feel all alone.

There are tremendous blessings in ministry. Please don’t infer anything different. Good shepherds don’t enter the ministry because of the glamour — they do so because they are obedient to the calling. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t hurt and struggle.

Therefore, I want to offer some suggestions on how you might want to help your (under)-shepherd when he is hurting….

First, genuinely pray for him. Not, the kind of pray that is more of a glib expression than a certain reality. Not the kind of prayer that includes world peace, everyone who is hungry and Cousin Jethro’s upcoming parole hearing in the same breath. But an intense and personal prayer which asks the Lord’s protection on him body, soul and spirit, that he be filled and walking in the Spirit, that his family would be encouraged, that he would be edified by the church and that he would have unusual wisdom and stamina. Very specific prayers for very specific and real needs.

Secondly, allow your pastor to be human. Every pastor knows that certain professions have an aura in which people don’t really want to think of them in anything other than professional terms. The President of the United States, the Pope, your doctor, celebrities — we really don’t want to think of them as having things like dirty laundry, requiring oil changes in their vehicles or wanting to sit in the living room in old comfortable clothes watching an NFL playoff game. But pastors are people too. Our kids get detentions. The dog piddles on our carpeting. We wake up in surly moods sometimes. Our breath smells when we eat garlic. It’s life and we live it. Don’t have unrealistic expectations of him or his family. Let him enjoy a day off. If you don’t have to call until business hours, give him that courtesy. Don’t be upset with him when he reschedules a meeting so that he can see his son play basketball or his daughter play a recital piece.

Next, if you offer a criticism — be kind and offer suggestions. If you are leader, you will be criticized. If you can’t deal with that — you have no business in leadership. But there are different kinds of criticism. There’s what my dad used to call “belly-aching” — which is generally just an unpleasant venting and criticizing session. Then there’s also constructive criticism which not only identifies a problem, but which offers a solution. Don’t be offended if your pastor already knows its a problem, but hasn’t come up with a solution or if you offer a solution and he tells you why it won’t work. If both of you try, you might be able to continue the dialogue until a reasonable solution or an acceptance of the current state is reached. Pastors should not be afraid of good suggestions and valid criticisms — when we cut ourselves off from feedback, we make ourselves less effective.

Fourth, make sure your pastor is getting some “recharge” time. Most evangelical pastors that I know (not all, but definitely MOST) work 60 hours or more per week. Even when they aren’t at work, they are generally on “call.” If they take Saturday’s off, they do so with the pressure of the next day weighing on their mind throughout the day. Add to their schedule evening services, meetings, events and visitation and you’ll find that their schedule can deplete them physically, emotionally and spiritually over time. FORCE/REQUIRE your pastor to take periodic vacations. Make it possible for them to attend conferences or go on a missions trip each year. Work to protect their private time. If you own a personal retreat or have access to a secluded getaway, offer to let him go there to study and read and plan and rest. Many pastors struggle with depression and discouragement and a few days each month spent planning and refreshing themselves will help them rid their minds of the clutter that weighs them down.

Also, make your comments to them about such exercises positive. Every pastor I know endures comments like, “Wow…I wish I got a car as part of my compensation package!” or “It must be nice to be able to work only 1 day a week.” or “Sure must be sweet to take a vacation and call it a conference.” I could list a hundred cruel things said to pastors when they are trying to make themselves more effective in the ministry that truly suck the joy out of what you are doing. People are often just trying to be witty (they failed) or they are simply petty and small-minded when they say it, but it adds guilt and robs joy from the pastor.

Next, give your pastor professional tools and privileges. A cell phone is a must today. Take care of his travel costs as he ministers. Give him a book allowance. Send him to seminary classes if he so desires. Every real professional must take professional development work. Lawyers, doctors, teachers, architects, contractors, real estate agent and many other professionals must take continuing education courses and seminars or they will not be recertified in their fields. Should not the one whose responsibility it is to watch over your souls be afforded the same courtesy?

Finally, be thoughtful. Offer to watch their kids so the pastor and his wife can get a night away. Remember his birthday or the anniversary of his call to your ministry. Allow him to vent privately or be humanly frustrated without using it as fodder for gossip to others. Let him know when he does something that makes a difference in your life. Protect him from the unkind words or actions of others. If you’ll minister to him, he’ll be a better minister to you.

I’m not writing this from any sense of deprivation in my own life. After 23 years in the ministry, I realize how blessed I have been by the people I’ve served. But there are a lot of guys out there who are struggling and could use a word of encouragement or a reminder that what they do matters. If you’ll invest in your pastor, he’ll be better able to invest in you.