Things I Think
1. The back alleys of the internet are buzzing with rumors of Mark Driscoll’s soon return to the stage.
I have a response to that inevitable news, but it’s too profane to print here.
The only thing that elicits more profanity is knowing that there are people so idolatrous and biblically illiterate that they will be willing to be the first set of carcasses under a brand new bus.
Let’s just end this flood of words and whispers…Driscoll is a narcissistic religious opportunist, a heartless hireling, no more than this generations version of Jimmy Swaggart.
If that’s what you’re looking for in a “pastor”…have at it.
Just don’t call a blogger when you want someone to see the tire tracks he leaves where you used to keep your wallet.
2. I’ve seen a couple of pastors publicly say that they were “saddened” that Mark was disciplined for “unbiblical” reasons. What they are really saying is that unless you catch a tyrant with his pants down, it’s biblically allowable to be a tyrant.
No, it’s not…and unless you understand why Driscoll is unfit for the ministry, you are too.
3. Last night, word came that well known Word Faith teacher Myles Munroe had died in a plane crash. Almost immediately there came of flood of Facebook posts with the phrase “I hope he repented before he died”. That’s actually Christianeze for “I think he split hell wide open”.
4. One of great mercies of God is that He will carry all of the stress and pain of difficult circumstances with you. It is only when you choose to carry them yourself that you find they are far too heavy for your shoulders.
5. It has been claimed that faith is a crutch…I affirm that. It’s also the hospital bed and wheelchair I rely on when I’m too weak for a crutch.
6. Whenever I find myself walking without grace and mercy for others, it’s a sure sign that I’m in need of both myself.
7. Universalism and legalism are two sides of the same coin.
8. God is not going to let you stand next to Him at the judgment and say “I told you so” to anyone…
9. The most strident critics of Christianity today are not the atheists or pagans…it is those who the church do not love well when they were among us.
10. Hell was created for divine justice, not to be the last word on doctrinal differences.
phoenixpreacher@gmail.com
1-10…Excellent! Number 5…AMEN, AMEN!!!
Years ago I heard a guy reply to the “Jesus is a crutch” line by saying, “No, He is an entire life support system”…I always liked that.
“I hope he repented before he died”
I guess I miss why Munroe needed to repent.
This kind of reminds me of something that happened years ago. Near where I live, a pastor of a growing church got cancer and died. There were many who asked, “I wonder what sin caused the cancer?”
When any man or women dies the last thing needed is to ask such drivel. If you love God and others you know this one thing, they are facing the same throne now you and I will in the future.
BTW I heard Texas has a church on every corner. Will their be enough room for MD there?
I would emphatically agree with your statement at #9. Hurt and harm makes for a more volatile hatred than simple philosophical differences.
faith is the touch that raised me from the dead, the brace which enabled me to stand, the crutch that allowed me to walk, and the push which bids me run.
Driscoll and the stage: criminal returning to the scene of the crime; licking the frozen flagpole again; dog lapping up its vomit. I suppose I need to ruminate on #6 some more.
#1- i have to wonder what folk are looking for when they respond to these Christian “roosters”… but the devil must find them tasty … it is sad all the way around because i am quite sure that some (most? many?) of these types start out on the premise that they have a gift and a calling from God…
#2 – isn’t it sad that we’ve been thru a generation or two where personality = calling from God… a victory for the devil and some nondescript spiritual giants have been shoved aside and are known only to God – that said, when God has a job that must be done, He does raise up someone to do it… or so i believe
#4 – #6 amen for sure
#7 – chewing on this
#8 – what scares me is that God will say, “I told you so, Em…”
#9 – there are some people that i cannot stand, but the thing is… God loves them and so out of respect for Him, i respect them – or i try to – i hope i do
#10 – chewing on this
see i read the whole list of ‘things’ … thank you, Michael … thinking, thinking, thinking…
filbertz “faith is the touch that raised me from the dead, the brace which enabled me to stand, the crutch that allowed me to walk, and the push which bids me run.”
if my short term memory wasn’t gone, i’d memorize this 🙂
I’m a big fan of number 5!!
While Em is chewing, I’d like to be spoon fed, please. What is the coin in #7?
Jim,
Both sides err on qualifying and quantifying the grace of God.
The legalist is far too narrow, the universalist too broad.
I’d rather have lunch with a universalist…
Thank you all for reading and thinking along with me.
Thanks Michael.
Isn’t a legalist just someone who believes that item more strongly than you/me?
#9. Absolutely
Pondering on #7 this morning I can see how they could be mistaken for the same coin as both emphasize good works. However a huge difference would be that the understanding of God for the legalist often brings fear that one won’t measure up and be hell bound no matter how hard one tries. While the universalist encourages we do our best but if we fall short, we are still beloved by God. Hellfire is not part of the equation.
I confess to having less & less trust in those whose religion boils down to a get out of hell free card. Yet celebrate compassion and caring in others no matter what labels they may use to describe their journey of faith. I know some will respond that the only way is faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Yet ironically even among these pages how that faith is imparted, accessed, and lived is without consensus. As I have mentioned before, it continues to confound me how something touted as so important, so necessary as gaining eternal life and avoiding eternal damnation wouldn’t be made perfectly and simply clear. I wonder why the composition & acquisition of the Living Water isn’t as clear and consice as that of H20.
#10 It was seeing others loved less than well, more than my own experiences that leave the biggest scars on my soul 🙁
Opps! Meant #9. Drain bamage strikes again, LOL
Anne,
I told my pastor this morning that I’m thinking of writing a weekly column like this called ‘Bleep If I Know” (or something similar) to explore some of these mysteries and differences and how we deal with them…
“I wonder why the composition & acquisition of the Living Water isn’t as clear and consice as that of H20.”
That is my favorite takeaway (puzzle) from this thread.
I think #7 is what Jesus was talking about when he referred to the leaven of the pharisees and the leaven of Herod. Beware!
***I guess I miss why Munroe needed to repent.
This kind of reminds me of something that happened years ago. Near where I live, a pastor of a growing church got cancer and died. There were many who asked, “I wonder what sin caused the cancer?”***
He needed to repent because he was a Word of Faith scam artist which suggests that he was not a christian. Plus he was on his way to the Bahamas in a private jet for some kind of “leadership seminar” which would also suggest that he was a scam artist and not a real pastor.
I haven’t taken people’s comments hoping that he repented before he died to mean they think his sinfulness caused the plane to crash. I think they were just saying that the time right before the plane crashed was the last opportunity he had to become a christian and hopefully he took it.
#16 Michael, I hope that column materializes. I think it would be great food for thought. I know I’d enjoy reading it!
Thought #7 is a pretty big admission.
Thought #9 takes a lot of “Old No.7” to quench, if you catch my meaning…
Reuben,
You know I do…hope you’re feeling better, my friend.
Anne,
I just posted the first one…I need a catchy title, though…
#2: Who? Where? Just wondering what pastors believe Mark Driscoll was disciplined unbiblically (and therefore justified in resigning, I assume, which interestingly is something that the bylaws of MH church prohibited members from doing).
#3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_koM5h0z3Ng
Jackie,
I wasn’t endorsing him…his theology is abhorrent to me.
I just haven’t received the notice that I’m qualified to judge his soul.
I really know nothing about Myles Munroe so I will say nothing except that it was a tragedy to die that way and I am his age.
Driscoll wasn’t disciplined by anyone.
As for unbiblical reasons…
Facebook block is cyber heaven and a real relief from bellicose noise it is about as close as any of us should come to being the judge of anyone.
How do you repent when a plane crashes into a tower?…Turning around would have helped a lot.
Hell was created for …. theological discussion… no wait that’s heaven… or… is that the waiting area?
“This is your pilot speaking. We are on our final approach, literally and figuratively. There is a crane directly ahead that we will strike, obliterating this Lear Jet, and dump us all into the junkyard just beyond the docks. My suggestion is that anyone who doesn’t desire landing in the permanent junkyard where there is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, repent now. Terminal connections can be discussed with the linen-clad assistants who will greet you shortly. Simply go up the ramp toward the light. Your luggage will be claimed by your next of kin. Be sure your seats and trays are in the upright and locked positions. It has been a pleasure serving you today, enjoy the rest of your flight.”
Michael, I agree with comment #24. I’d like to see you name the “pastors” who were saddened by MD being “unbiblically disciplined.” The reason I want you to name them, is so that the rest of us will know to avoid these guys.
RE: Driscoll…I hope for his soul’s sake he hears nothing but crickets and see’s nothing but tumbleweeds. If you know what I mean.
RE: Munroe…My wife found some of his books very helpful..nothing about getting money from God, but one in particular about finding healing after divorce.
MD has the best of all worlds… his fame is in tact, it is higher than ever. He is a proven prophet … “his bus drove over a mountain” … well it did crash but that was the mountain’s problem. His board all but exonerated him going out the door. He has the celebrity Christian culture on his side. (The same guys who acquired New Life Church in CO) He now has a victim narrative like no one ever heard. His sins have been transmuted into ‘mistakes.’ And a ton of stress is off him. Give him an extended vacation and BAM! Wait that is TB… I get confused.