Clowning around in the Pulpit…literally.

Clowns in the Pulpit

A recent column by Josh Rottenberg in Entertainment Weekely sighted the awkward and many times blasphemous crossroads where Hollywood and faith have met.   In it, he discusses the failure of Christians to attend movies primarily for religious reasons.  Attempts to make Christian-targeted films resulting in massive box-office smashes have failed.  This was Hollywood’s pragmatic attempt to use the pulpit to find a market for its movies.

“‘After The Passion, there was a gold rush,’ says Phil Vischer, a co-creator of the Christian-themed cartoon franchise VeggieTales.  ’Hollwood thought, ‘This is great! We can market movies to pastors and they will get up on Sunday and tell their whole congregation to go see them! It’s a new button we can push, and money will fall from the sky! It was doomed from the get-go.”

As a result, though somewhat successful, Christian-themed movies (however blasphemous or vague)  like The Chronicles of Narnia, Evan Almighty, The Da Vinci Code, The Golden Compass, and The Nativity Story, have largely fell short of expectations in this theory. Instead, the Christian community has found identification with the Edenic-themed WALL-E, the amoral The Dark Knight and the strangely pro-life comedy Juno.  Why can’t Hollywood capture Christian audiences when it means to?

“Hollywood still hasn’t quite figured out how to crack the Christian code. ‘With a snap of his fingers, [mega-church pastor] Rick Warren could deliver hundreds of thousands of people to a movie,’ says Matthew Crouch, producer of the 1999 Christian film The Omega Code, ‘Hollywood is trying to figure out how to reach them.  But how do you get Rick Warren to sign on to a script? That’s the six-million dollar question Hollywood’s trying to answer.  But they don’t know how easy it is to offend that faith. You have to realize you’re playing with fire.”

Could I suggest something?  The reason Hollywood cannot reach the Christian community is the reason that Rick Warren can reach so many people.  Nominal Christians want the gospel and _________. Hollywood fails to understand the power of the gospel.  That though they classify us as a “faith,” our faith is real because it has an object–the person and work of Jesus Christ, the only name given under heaven whereby men may be saved.  Rick Warren does not understand this, hence EW ’s citation of his success. Rick Warren wants a faith-based program ministry that forgets that we are a people who are not of this world.  Though we want to help alleviate the ailments of this world, we understand that the most important ailment is sin, and its only remedy is the gospel of God.  Rick Warren does not get this.  Hollywood does not get this.  We are not of this world. We are passing through; the gospel is not. God has a purpose for the gospel in this world–to save sinners for himself and therefter to hear the praises of his glory in his Son.

What we have here in this article is a sad realization of the modern liberalism that has crept so pervasively into our churches–a watered-down version of Christianity that defines itself merely on a works-based mantra-”follower of Christ.” Any attempts to “reach people” are found in sweeping them through a gospel doorway right onward to an unoffensive life of service.  Before I continue, let me be clear: I believe that we are called to a life of service to mankind.  I do not believe that we are called to this life of service apart from a clear and uncompromising proclamation of the gospel.  This is our purpose: to lift up the Son for all to turn to and so be saved. Christians are the only people in the world who have a reason to do service–namely, to testify to the power of God to save sinners because of the person and work of Christ.

I have made quite certain that I am at odds with Rick Warren.  His gospel is watered-down, empty, and cursorily.  He has “bigger fish to fry,” namely, the PEACE plan. A acronym that basically stands for the gospel + good works.  We note the way he popishly declares people saved who read his book if they said that prayer at the end of his book.  “Welcome to the Family of God!”  He then ushers them on to service as if to say, “Now that you considered the gospel (a very thin one at that), you need to move on to bigger things, like service to mankind.” Foolishness…

There is no experience of weight under the law of God, there is no sense of shame for sin before a holy God, there is no mediating advocate through the finished and complete work of Christ, there is no repentance, there is no faith.  The gospel of Rick Warren is dead because it is natural.  It not the supernatural faith once for all delivered to the saints. It is pragmatic and cursorily.

I find in this interesting article from EW an indication that many clergy are reaping what they have sowed.  By ignoring the supernatural power of God’s purpose in the gospel, we have turned to all manner of natural elements to reach the carnal mind.  We will even dress up like clowns to entertain it. Note the interesting testimony Rottenberg uses to begin his article:

“It’s one thing for some nerdy fanboy who lives in his parents’ basement to show his enthusiasm for The Dark Knight by dressing up as the Joker. But for a pastor to stand before his congregation in full Joker regalia, complete with ratty wig and gruesome makeup, and deliver a sermon on good and evil–that’s something else altogether.  Last summer, in a radical attempt to engage his young congregants at the Christ Chapel Mountaintop Church in Manassas, Va., pastor Rob Seagears did exactly that.  Each Sunday, Seagears dressed up as a character from that weekend’s top-grossing film and used the movie–no matter how vulgar, violent, or ungodly it seemed–as the basis for a discussion of Christian morality.”

Reading this with as much charity as possible, I acknowledge that I don’t know this pastor’s heart and intention.  I also don’t know the content of his message (or even if there was one).  He might have had a clear presentation of the gospel in his message, but based on this information, it was probably what it said-”a discussion of Christian morality.” 

This is not the gospel.  This man, literally, was clowning around in the pulpit.  This is not the charge of the pastor.  The pastor is called to preach the gospel (2 Timothy 1:8-14; 2:15; 4:1-2).  Paul himself refused to turn from it in the name of “contextualization.” 

As Mark Dever once so wisely proposed:  “Here’s a good measure to see if your contextualization is a good contextualization that honors God.  Does it make the offense of the gospel clearer or does it disguise it?”

For the Corinthians, Paul refused to talk to them in the style of some Greek orator and so titillate their carnal intellectualism.  For the Galatians, he refused to have them think the gospel must be added to circumcision and other Judiaic laws and so massage their carnal desire to be self-righteous.  For the Colossians, he refused to allow them to think that wisdom, knowledge and spiritual experience was found anywhere but in Christ–not in the worship of angels, mysticism, or aceticism–and so “transcend” to the upper realms of spirituality.  Paul wanted to know nothing among his people but Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-2).  Indeed, this was of first importance to Paul (1 Corinthians 15:1-3).

My first reaction to the story given of this pastor is to call him a false teacher who is disqualified from the ministry, but after I calm down, I remember this quotation he gave to EW:

“Pop culture is the language they speak…This was about meeting them where they are and trying to build a bridge back to God.”

I will trust what he said and take it to mean that he truly wants to reach people.  But what does it mean when we say “reach people”? Does it mean that we want to help them live their best life now and so ignore their need for Christ’s righteousness? Does it mean we want them to have a purpose-driven life and so forget the cross in the dust of our service projects?  Or does it mean that we want to reconcile them to God through faith in Christ by an open and pleading proclamation of the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)?

My purpose here is not to attack cultural engagement.  My purpose here is not to attack this pastor (though I still will contend that he requires church discipline for mocking the pulpit).  My purpose here is to call pastors back to their charge in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus: Preach the Word! (2 Timothy 4:1-2).

This man wants to discuss Christian morality by dressing up like a clown, or by dressing up like Indiana Jones, or by driving up to the pulpit in a motorcycle dressed up like Batman.  What foolishness, what a shame, what a mockery to that sacred desk…

Paul wants to know nothing among his people but Christ’s death and resurrection.  Don’t ever assume that your people know the gospel.  Unpack all of its glorious facets for the rest of your preaching ministry.  This is your charge.  People will respond to the gospel because this is where God has placed his power.  Either they will respond to it with derision or they will respond to it in faith.  This is what we have been promised from the beginning (2 Timothy 4:3-4; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6).

Hollywood can’t reach the carnal mind for Christ–the gospel can. The Men of God, however, must guard that good deposit entrusted to them (1 Timothy 6:20).  Don’t make a mockery of that good deposit.  We are not clowns; we are preachers. Let Hollywood mock the Cross, but we will stand by it until our Master returns.

Working with you for the gospel,

Vince R.

Youth, Discipleship, and the Centrality of the Home

Several articles in the April 6 issue of the Southern Baptist Texan impacted my affections as I read them.  They exhibit a major passion of mine: the centrality of the family in discipling children.

Tammie Reed Ledbetter addresses the research related to youth who prefer expository preaching. Even though this article is not directly related to the centrality of the home, it does relate to the importance of good doctrine and the sufficiency of Scripture in discipling young people.

One Texas church is turning toward a more family-integrated approach.  This article relates the major success of that church.

The newsjournal also included a post  from Eric Bridges, an IMB correspondent, who discussed the rise of formerly evangelical young people who now claim to have no religious affliation.  He examines the idea that this tragedy lies at the feet of parental failure to disciple their children.

I am greatly affected by these articles because they go the heart of my calling toward biblical manhood.  They strike the alarming chord reminding me of my call to prepare to disciple my children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  It is not the youth pastor’s job to teach my kids.  That lies at my feet.  May we all tremble at the responsibility and weight the Lord calls on Fathers, and may we awaken to God’s intended purpose for the family.

Working with you for the Family and for our children,

Vince R.

The New Atheism and the Endgame of Secularism

Dr. Mohler’s lecture last year at Dallas Theological Seminary.  I plan on quoting it in my final paper for the class entitled  The Victorian Period.  He speaks of “the Victorian Loss of Faith.”  My working title is: “The Ebb of Faith’s Sea: Doubt and Modernism in Tennyson and Arnold.”

“The Sea of Faith
Was once, too, at the full, and round earth’s shore
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.
But now I only hear
Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,
Retreating, to the breath
Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear
And naked shingles of the world.” -From Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold

Embryonic Stem-Cell Research History: Just in Case You Missed it…Like I did.

I haven’t been living under a rock or anything, but on many issues, my cultural engagement is pretty weak.  Embryonic Stem-Cell Research has been thrown around near my ears, but only over the past year or so have I given myself to trying to stay informed.  Here’s an article summarizing the history and controversy of Embryonic Stem-Cell Research since the first invitro fertilization baby was born in 1981.  It is very helpful for people like me who need a little bit of help understanding the basic facts of the issue.  This is a much needed review in light of President Barack Obama’s woeful decision on Monday March 9, 2009 to repeal President George W. Bush’s 2001 ban on federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research.

Here is an exhortation for the Church:

We are called to stay informed.  We are the people who know the dignity of human life from conception until natural death.  We are the people whose love for the glory of God in all things must stay engaged in this issue in which the glory of God in the Imago Dei is being destroyed and dishonored.  We are the people who are called to love our neighbor by warning them of lies and deceit while working to think through the same concerns that even the lost world cares for.  We must work to provide biblical and honest answers while not straying or compromising from the integrity and truth of God in his word.   This is a time for God’s people and his scientists to rise up and provide, for the glory of God, an honest alternative.  Pray for the scientists, pray for those whose hurts and afflictions have called for these questions, pray for the families who just wanted to have children but did not think through the reprecutions of this issue, and most of all, pray for the lives that will be intentionally destroyed in the name of human progress and human glory.

I’m still praying for you Mr. President.  God have mercy on you.

Working with you for life,

Vince R.

Echoes of the Reformation in 2009

Check out this article from Time Magazine: Ten Ideas Changing the World Right Now: #3 The New Calvinism.

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Thanks Sareena for finding this.

Albert Mohler and the City of Man: A Book Review

"In the end, the culture and its challenges will pass away. But our Lord has left us here for a reason-as His people, we are to be salt and light to a dying world."

As I finished Dr. Mohler’s book Culture Shift: Engaging Current Issues with Timeless Truth, I realized the unrelenting importance of cultural engagement.  I may not be one called toward academic cultural apologetics, but as a Christian, I have a responsibility to know the place where the people dwell.  As I recall Discern Your Culture at New Attitude 2007, I remember a profoundly affecting and simply stated truth Dr. Mohler brought, “The only reason we care about the culture is because the culture is where the lost people are.”  Very simple; but often overlooked.  In the name of cultural engagemet, Christians often forget their responsibility to holiness and Christ-centeredness.  And just the same, in the name of holiness and Christ-centeredness, Christians often forget their responsiblity to love their neighbor.

This book heightens my intensity and passion for engaging the City of Man.  Here is an excerpt that powerfully portrays the necessity for Christian engagement with the culture.  Dr. Mohler springs off the shoulders of St. Augustine with simple theological dexterity:

“The City of God is eternal and takes as its sole concern the greater glory of God.  In the City of God, all things are ruled by God’s Word, and the perfect rule of God is the passion of all its citizens.

In the City of Man, however, the reality is very different.  This city is filled with mixed passions, mixed allegiances, and compromised principles…citizens of the City of Man demonstrate deadly patterns of disobedience, even as they celebrate moral autonomy, and then revolt against the Creator.

Of course, we know that the City of God is eternal, even as the City of Man is passing.  But this does not mean that the City of Man is ultimately unimportant, and it does not allow the church to forfeit its responsibility to love its citizens.  Love of neighbor–grounded in our love for God–requires us to work for good in the City of Man, even as we set as our first priority the preaching of the gospel–the only means of bringing citizens of the City of Man into citizenship in the City of God…

Love of neighbor for the sake of loving God is a profound political philosophy that strikes a balance between the disobedience of political disengagement and the idolatry of politics as our main priority…we are concerned for the culture, not because we believe that the culture is ultimate, but because we know that our neighbors must hear the gospel, even as we hope and strive for their good, peace, security, and well-being.”-pp.3-4

If you are looking for a work that serves as a nice introductory seque into worldview apologetics and cultural engagement, I strongly suggest you begin with Dr. Mohler.  He is a nice bridge into more thorough and dense works from Francis Schaeffer, C.S. Lewis, David Wells, and many more.  As C.J. Mahaney puts it in his review of the book,

“Al Mohler is a unique gift to the church.  His writing combines penetrating theological discernment and insightful cultural analysis with a passion to faithfully proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

I must agree.  Dr. Mohler refuses to leave the gospel.  For him, cultural engagment means that we go straight to the need of the lost–a regenerated soul.  For without that happening to us first, our worldview would not be any different from theirs.

Working with you to bring a gospel-centered worldview to the market place,

Vince R.

The Root of Roe v. Wade: The Contraception Mentality

Here is a powerful examination of the current “contraception mentality.”

Check out this compelling excerpt:

“We submit, therefore, that children are now being aborted in the flesh, because they have already been, in large measure, aborted from the mind.”

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Thank you to Bro. Hank for bringing this the current issue of Touchstone Magazine to my attention.  Go visit his biblicaly charged engagment with the Pro-life movement over at Lawn Gospel.

Working with you for Life,

Vince R.

100% Gospel: Jonathan Dodson on “Gospel and Method”

Jonathan Dodson contributed to The Resurgence web blog with these two articles.  I had a verbal “wow” when I read them.  Check out both parts.  I have provided excerpts from both.  Think hard especially about part II.  It is there that I was even more convinced of this simple equation: Preach Word -> Church Growth.

Part I

“Perhaps we need to be debating the strength of the gospel that is being preached, taught, shared, and shown in our churches. Are we incarnating and attracting people to a diluted gospel or a strong gospel? Are we incarnating kitsch gospel or kerygmatic gospel? In the end, what are we calling people to? Is our gospel both missional and communal or inward and individualistic? If it’s the latter, then something is wrong with our gospel. What would happen if we stopped debating methods and started debating gospel—winsomely and charitably?”

Part II

“Each concoction of the 50/50 gospel is actually quite dangerous. They all produce churches that attract people to morality messages, missional activities, and communal experiences. The goal of the church is reduced to converting people to a better way of living, not to a better God to be believing.“

Working with you for the gospel method,

Vince R.

God Should Have Aborted Me!

“Your origin and your birth are of the land of the Caananites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.  And as for your birth, on the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling cloths.  No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you, but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred, on the day that you were born.  And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’  I made you flourish like a plant of the field.  And you grew up and became tall and arrived at full adornment.  Your breasts were formed, and your hair had grown; yet you were naked and bare.  When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered in a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine.” Ezekiel 16:1-8

Here we see a wretched baby.  A pagan child thrown out and cast asunder as some rejected creature.  It was an unknown and unwanted child of God.  Note some truths of this baby:

1.) Its Origin

This child was born of two pagan and godless parents,  “an Amorite” for a father, and ”a Hittite” for a mother.  “Your orgin and your birth are of the land of Canaan.”

It was a baby born of the enemies of God’s people  It was a baby born of the pagans who worshipped and sacrificed before idols, pouring the blood of infants on their altars.   A wretched and grotesque picture to behold!  The origin was deplorable.  Who would want this baby?!

2.)  Its Condition

When it was born, its cord was still hanging from its middle. “…your cord was not cut.”  This paints the picture of a quick and inconsiderate parent.  Not even the umbilical cord was worth cutting.  It stuck out and hung there like some symbol of a sluggard too lazy to clean itself.  It was a sad picture, and a grotesque reminder of depravity and rejection.

When it was born, the baby was dirty. “…nor were you washed with water to cleanse you…”  It was a filthy child.  Combined with the dirt and sludge of the streets.  Blood dripping from its tiny digits.  Who would want this baby?

When it was born, it was not purified.  “…nor rubbed with salt…”  Salt purified.  It was in impure entity.  Some defiled child lying helpless in black sin.  No one dared look at this unwanted creature.

When it was born, it was naked and unkept.  “..nor wrapped in swaddling cloths.”  It was some naked and uncovered hairless animal.  No one even covered it!  Despite its ugliness, it was too ugly to cover.

3.)  Its Rejection

Who dared look at this creature? “No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you…” No eye dared look with compassion.  This seemed some pitiful sight to behold, yet no eye even dared to behold it!  No eye considered its origin.  No eye considered its filth.  No eye considered its impurity. No eye considered its nakedness.

What happened to it? “…but you were cast out on the open field…”  It was thrown like some shiny and grotesque rubber humanoid, cast away in a death field.  Thrown from memory, the baby was left in the open where no eye dared look.

How was it considered? “…for your were abhorred, on that day your were born…”  This creature was not just too ugly to consider.  It was not some indifference to which it was to be held.  It was with a real feeling, with a real emotion and consideration.  What it was it? Of what was its consideration?  Abhorrence.  A biting hatred that cast it out in darkness.

4.)  Its Resurrection

But, Lo!  Who is that who approaches this baby, this pitiless fossil?  “And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood.” Who is this “I”?  When asked to recount this story, Ezekiel is told: “say, Thus says the Lord God…” This “I” is the Lord of heaven and earth.  It is the holy one of Isreal who approaches.  He sees the creature there.  He passes by and looks.  When no one else dared approach, when all others abhorred and rejected this things in the field, the Lord comes nigh and sees.

But, behold! Does the Soveriegn One simply walk on by?  Does he just see and reject and abhor as all the others did?  Does he do what he should? Does he kill it and throw it to sheol where it belongs, this pagan baby?  Look! He bestirs his holy powers and opens his mighty mouth and gives one word, “Live!”  Where was this creature when this word poured forth? “I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’”  While this bloody reject lies wallowing in filth, the Lord says one word, and what he says, he accomplishes.

5.)  Its New Life

What becomes of this creature?  What does the Lord do for it? ”I made you flourish like a plant of the field.”  It flourishes with life and beauty.  It comes forth through the dirt and grime, giving evidence of newness.  It lives! Not only that, it flourishes.

“Your breasts were formed and your hair had grown.” Suddenly, it is no longer an “it.”  It is a “she.”  She is a beautiful young woman with life and vigor.  She grows into elegance and femininity.

Yet, what remains of her.  She is now grown, but she is naked.  She is still open and uncovered.  “yet you were naked and bare.”

6.) Her Covering

When she is older and comes “at the the age of love,” the Lord passes by and covers her.  “I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness.”  She is vital.  She is ready for loving and holy covenental union.  The Lord covers her.  No one can look upon her now.  Why?

7.)  Her Union

Why must she be covered? “I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD, and you became mine.”

Now we see.  She belong to him. No else may gaze upon her as some rejected whore.  She belongs to her husband.  They are joined and glory and joy ensues!  “…a covenant…

This, my friends, is the picture of salvation.  You were rejected and unwanted.  You were dead. You were dirty.  Yet the Lord walks by and sees you wallowing in your blood, and he says to in your blood, “Live!”

And thus it was.  Why?  That you may be his.

Friends,  what does this imply? How does this apply?

He had every right to choose to kill…but he didn’t.  He chose life.

What right have we to do murder to our own, when the only one who really has that right chose life?

Choosing life, it seems, is choosing godliness.

Working with you to cherish and choose life,

Vince R.

Fathers Count and Family Matters

“He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.” Psalm 78:4-7

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ’Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.’ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:1-4

It is of most profound interest that the Lord calls Fathers to account about the teaching of their children. Mothers, of course, do this as well, but the Scriptures constantly give a heavy specific command to Fathers to be the primary teacher and instructor of the home.  This is of great importance when one considers recent statistics.

Even in the secular world, where such patriarchy is sneered at and despised, one finds it interesting that even they, with their post modern worldview, can not escape the eternal reality of a Father’s impact in the lives of his children.

In my education class this year, we are reading a book called, “The Act of Teaching.” In the second chapter, I found a shocking reminder of this inescapable truth.  The authors write:

“This brings us to the importance of having a father in the home.  ‘Children who grow up with fathers do far better…in every way we can measure than children who do not.  This holds true [regardless of race, class and income].  The simple truth is that fathers are irreplaceable in shaping the character of their children. (Blankenhom in Alexander; 2005).

Here are some supportive, sobering statistics.  Children in fatherless homes account for 71 percent of dropouts, 85 percent of kids with behavioral disorders, 63 percent of teen suicides, 70 percent of juveniles in detention centers, 85 percent of youths in prison, 75 percent of those in chemical abuse treatment centers, 80 percent of rapists, and 90 percent of homeless and runaways.  Whithead, a counselor at a juvenile detention center, challenges that ‘if you find a gang member who comes from a complete nuclear family, I’d like to meet him…I don’t think he exists’ (ibid.).  Cole adds, “Maturity does not come with age, but with the responsibility of one’s actions.  The lack of effective, functioning fathers is the root cause of America’s social, economic and spiritual crisis’ (ibid).” (The Act of Teaching, p. 30, 2008.)

This is absolutely fascinating to me.  Here we have a secularized textbook on education that cites studies and statistics that support an eternal truth of Fatherhood, namely, that fathers contribute to the stability of civilization.  I cannot help but re-type that last sentence:

“The lack of effective, functioning fathers is the root cause of America’s social, economic and spiritual crisis.”

I recall a prophetically articulated comment from my pastor at home: ‘The hope for America does not rest in any election.  The hope of America rests in the hands of fathers who hold fast to the gospel.’

It seems, indeed, that fathers are irreplaceable, and the family truly matters.  Asaph in Psalm 82:3 prays, “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless, maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute,” and I hope we will join with him.

Working with you to wave high the banner of God’s first institution and to stand firmly upon its truth,

Vince R.