Things I Think…
1. I think this is the last “Things I Think” for the foreseeable future and probably forever. I no longer have either the creativity or the hubris to think I have ten things worth reading every week. I’ll still write when the Spirit prompts, but my ascent into mediocrity has to end at this point…
2. The reality is that much of the church is wholly uninterested in what I think about the most… which is the church…
3. This site started as a loud protest against abuse and corruption in the church…I had the hubris to believe that such things were a blight on the church and could be changed by exposure…instead, both have been institutionalized and applied to all the areas that the church touches…
4. Strangely enough, while I oppose men in women’s bathrooms and sports, I also oppose married men in women’s beds other than than their own …only one is an issue that the holy power brokers want to address…
5. Politics are an interesting and vital part of human life…but politics uninformed by the “whole counsel of Scripture” lead to idolatry and often blasphemy…
6. For me, now is a time to center myself on the teachings of Jesus…because I believe that what is coming will require a deep and abiding faith in Him in order to not lose hope and not to live in fear…
7. To be honest, I think that people will be a lot more interested in hearing the real Gospel when the gospel they voted for ruins what they they hoped it would renew…by this time next year I might have a lot more to say…
8. Without a doubt I’ve “lost my fastball”…because I’m still in shock that nothing we wrote made a dent…
9. The more time I spend with cats, the more I can tolerate people…
10. If people really understood Advent it wouldn’t be so neglected…it’s the perfect season at the perfect time for some of us…we will be printing a bit on that…
#2
It took me almost 50 years to realize that the church is really the only thing that matters. Books and articles are fine, but to see a congregation grow from a few souls to a few dozen is really what it’s all about. No one said that church is easy, but there are no alternatives, at least none that I find in scripture or the tradition…
Michael,
The things you have written have made a dent. I’m a latecomer to your blog. There’s probably quite a few differences between us. But our backgrounds have a certain similarity. Years ago, I naively thought that “if you just exegete the passage, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, only honestly, and tell them everything they need to know to make their own decision about what the passage says”, then people will come. I thought I found a home in an organization that seemed to be all about chapter by chapter, verse by verse teaching. I was sorely mistaken. It turns out that like every other organization, they were only interested in their own brand of exegesis. It also turns out that the true Word is not only something that doesn’t interest people, it also 1.) Makes them suspicious of you, and 2.) Drives them away in large numbers. But I have also learned in the journey that honestly proclaiming the Word in its totality is an objective worth pursuing in and of itself. When God called Isaiah, He said “Go, give them my Word until they are totally anesthetized and driven away.” Isaiah said “For how long?”, and the answer that came back was “Till there’s nothing left”. (My paraphrase of the latter part of Isaiah 6). What’s important isn’t how people respond. What’s important is that God has a voice in the earth. He can do that Himself if He wishes, but He has committed that Word to us as the caretakers. Be encouraged in that. I sense your journey may be winding down, but if that is indeed to be the case, I want to say thanks for letting me join you on this last leg of it.
Duane,
This is true…but as you know, I’m torn asunder on this matter.
We need some new churches…that want to be the church.
Terrie,
Thank you much for the kind words.
Very well put…it makes them suspicious and drives them away in large numbers…
I’m glad you’re here…we may yet have things to say together…
Precious Michael- your calling out churches & pastors may not have changed their behavior. But oh what a refuge you’ve provided for those affected! You helped many understand that their experiences were valid, warned many others of the wolves. Though not the results you hoped for, your ministry has been balm & refuge for many. I am so grateful to be counted among that number! With deep gratitude & love always.
Oops- Anne not Annd 😂
Michael,
Your “Things I Think” feature is what I had stumbled on many years ago. I will stay here because I feel some sense of community here. I will miss this feature, but I trust what God is doing and what you are doing. Our dogs are my sanctuary.
Michael,
I have really appreciated the “Things I Think” part of your blog. I also know that things change, and I look forward to continuing to read the blog with whatever changes come. I can’t imagine how much time it must take to round up all those resources!
Anne,
Thank you, my friend.
I anticipate that someone will have to do what we did for the next generation that gets mangled by the church…in numbers that will dwarf what we saw on our journey.
It’s a younger persons vocation…I’m aging out.
Thanks, Dan,
I’ll still write, but this column was like country albums in the 70’s…one hit and a bunch of filler…
Linn,
When I started I could pound this out in 15 minutes…now I labor for hours or even days to write something semi-coherent.
It’s time…and we’re glad you’ll be here for what comes next.
I completely understand the aging out. At 71 I’m finding managing my own medical care & activities of daily living take as much or more energy than when I was more active in my community and caregiving for others.
Michael,
Interesting comparison! I hope I still have something to contribute here, even though I don’t comment much.
Dan,
I think everyone who chooses to has something to contribute here. You’re an artist and a Jesus follower…that is a great combo in my opinion…
Anne,
Those things do take up a lot of energy…it seems most of my time is getting and keeping appointments.
For me, there is also a sense that we lost the battle and that younger people will be the ones to change the church, if it can be changed.
Ironically, this sort of admission reminds me of the growing need for a Jeremiah-like ministry – sharing one’s feeling of utter failure and comforting each other in validating just how many others out there struggle in the same way.
Now, if we could just get those younger in the faith to listen to us so instead of continuesly relearning the same lessons, we might get somewhere.
Then I remember, as frustrated and weary as I get, the Spirit has been grieving over us since Pentecost.
Thankfully I’m old enough now to recognize the uselessness of simply cataloging repeating carnality, after all, I’m not called give Satan a biography.
Seriously though, I know more “former” ministers than those who could (and their families) withstand the fight.
Michael,
I was introduced to your commentary here during the Sankey Orphanage abuse case as I knew many involved in trying to bring the situation to light. Even though I was in the Philippines, the only place I seemed to be able find accurate information on the Manila court case and inexplicable defense of the orphanage leadership by U.S. church leaders was through you. I thank you for being tenacious in uncovering the truth even though it weighed heavily on you, magnified exponentially by the immense resistance by the very church that is called to declare the truth and defend the defenseless victims. Although I prayed for you often and thanked the Lord for your ministry to your readers, I did so quietly without offering words of encouragement you so rightly deserved. Words don’t come easily for me and each of your 10 points were always so thought provoking (whether I agreed 100% or not) I felt inadequate to respond with anything coherent or conducive to the conversation. That is to say, I’m sure there are many like me who have quietly appreciated and benefitted from your ministry over the years. May God give you peace and strength each day as you seek His face and serve Him as He leads.
Dan from Georgia,
To keep the same analogy…in the late 70’s Jerry Lee Lewis was in rough shape…but he was still putting out albums.
He wasn’t playing piano on most cuts and his voice was shot to hell.
I still bought them all…but in a way he was taking advantage of me.
I don’t want to be like that.
He did make a comeback late in life…we’ll see if I can swing that someday.
UnCCed,
This is heavily on my heart…the need for true prophetic ministries and voices to be birthed in the Spirit.
Good word, my friend.
Dan,
Thank you for the kind words.
The Sankey case, like so many others, weighs heavily on me.
The perp is still in ministry and celebrated as a man of God.
I simply can’t comprehend how…
That is disheartening to hear. I worked with MKs for decades and I am distressed how many are fleeing the church for the very reasons that allowed Sankey to occur and organizations denying and covering up such despicable behavior. I try to rest in the knowledge that God will hold Tom and all others like him accountable.
BTW, as a native Minnesotan, I approve of your choice in football teams.
Dan,
The current evangelical mindset does not acknowledge how many young people it’s losing, nor do they care.
It’s the young ones…the ones abused at places like Potters Field and Sankey that will someday come back and make new outposts of Jesus followers.
I believe that…and hope they remember those of us that plowed the ground.
Life long Viking fan here…with the scars to prove it!
Michael and Dan,
Yes, being a Vikes fan with all the scars and stress…I hear ya!
Funny you mentioned Jerry Lee Lewis, Michael, about his troubles and recordings. As I go through the years, I find out bits and pieces of “insider” or public information that comes to light later on, how some performers and bands were so absent from their studio duties (usually alcohol and drug-related) that some of their albums were the work of studio musicians!
“8. Without a doubt I’ve “lost my fastball”…because I’m still in shock that nothing we wrote made a dent…”
In John’s prophetic visions recorded in Revelation, none of the various judgments on the world made a difference. To me that’s always been a paradox. But why should your reporting be any different? Maybe your ministry, like John’s prophetic ministry, is not to change the false church but to judge it by the standard of biblical truth?
I for one find your Things articles among your most original and creative. Keep exercising your gifts
Thanks, Jean.
Sometimes it’s better to retire a year early…while you’re still competent…
I know of a politician who should have followed your advice.
A lot of my childhood favorites stayed too long.
I remember Willie Mays last year with the Mets…it was painful to watch him .
Unitas stayed way too long and became a pitiful caricature of who he was.
I’m 66…started this when I was 41…I’m on painkillers and have limited mobility and less patience.
I still think I have some things to say…but not every day and not ten times every week.
I don’t know about the rule that says it has to be 10 things. How about just doing 3 points like some sermons.
Michael,
Thank you for your comment to me at 2:32pm. Much appreciated.
As a Vikes fan, you definitely recall running back Robert Smith. Recall his draft announcement was met with laughter? Considered too small, I believe. Well, he definitely proved them wrong. I also recall, and correct me if I am wrong, that he retired in his prime. As I age (I’m in my late 50s now), it’s tough to let go of some things. Not sure at what point I can go out “on top” at this stage in my life, but I know God has new roads for me.
Michael,
You may recall, I became aware of Phoenix Preacher because of Simple Minded Preacher. I won’t go over that again, but I came here guns blazing over your Calvinism. You know I was a Calvary Chapel guy. You watched in real time my fleeing a church. You told me to run. Probably the loudest God ever spoke to me.
You may think you accomplished little through all those years, but I am here today because of you. The weekly things are a part of my weekly foundations, a reliable constant, and I am sad to see them go.
I’m late to the party here, but wanted to add some thoughts.
Michael, you may not think you have your fastball anymore, but I think you still do. It may take a lot longer and a lot more effort to produce that fastball, but your writings are still often thought provoking, consequential, and profound. Maybe you just need not worry to keep conjuring up that fastball on a regular schedule and instead produce it only when you are inspired or the Spirit moves.
It may be quite true that in the end you didn’t end up having much impact on the corruption that pervades the church. However, you have had great impact on those who were harmed by the corruption and needed healing and sanity. The impact extends even to those like myself who may not have suffered great direct harm from the corruption, but needed an escape from the calamity and insanity. Maybe God has just ended up using you in a different way than what you would have envisioned. And maybe it was just as important, if not even more so.
There used to be a running joke around here many years ago as to whether you or Brett Favre would have more retirements and comebacks and who would last longer. I think you won. 🙂
Michael, I haven’t read any to the previous responses, so what I say may have already been said. But, who says you have to come up with “10 things”? Why put that pressure on yourself? If you have 2 or 3 or 4 things to say, I will still read and be inspired. Heck, if you say “A Thing I Think” it will still be worth taking the time to read. So, you have lost your “fastball” (I love the baseball analogy!). So have many of us. Though we cannot do what we once were able to do doesn’t make us irrelevant. We still have something significant to say within the context of our somewhat diminished drive and capacities. May the Lord always encourage you and give you something to say that would encourage and inspire others.
I have looked forward to this article every Monday since October 2008. “Things I Think” has been for me what “And that’s the way it is” was for my parents. I will be sad if this is it, but very grateful to have been here for so much of it.
And now a few thoughts of my own, inspired by yours, but not exactly responses to nay particular points:
1. My life has been a mixture of the greatest highs and devastating lows. Every time I think I can coast for a while, a new tragedy strikes and sends me reeling, but through it all I’ve experienced joys that are probably just fantasy for most people. It is exhausting, but never boring.
2. When my life went way off track a few years ago and I lost everything, including my faith, Michael was the first person I reached out to. So yeah, to me, what you’ve written has made a dent.
3. Over the years, I loudly condemned Reuben many times. I was almost joyful when he left the faith, like “See, I told you!”. When my life fell apart, Reuben was the first person to reach out to me. Meeting him and many others here has enriched my life beyond measure.
4. When I was a minister, I couldn’t figure out how to take part in American politics. I saw my call to a higher kingdom, and felt that choosing a side here was was being unfaithful to my king. This year is the first time I’ve voted for president. ( I have voted in local elections before). I was excited for Harris and really hoped she win. I was very disappointed when she didn’t. But looking back, I had fun. I had hope, I imagined what the country could be at its best, and I met some like minded people along the way.
5. My wife and I have found our church home for the time being. It is less conservative than where I came from, but not nearly as liberal as what I was looking for. I don’t think those churches exist much in North Carolina. Still, it is welcoming and ecumenical, blending ancient traditions with modern aesthetic. My faith is…gone. But there are people here who I think will help me find my way back home.
5 is plenty from me. I’ll never be half as good as Michael.
Glenn,
Good to see you!
I was thinking about you last night when I came across a young country singer I’d never heard of…and the kid was good.
“I wonder if Glenn has heard this kid”?
Mo Pitney…check him out.
Dan from Georgia,
I remember when Robert Smith retired…he was in his prime!
He doesn’t seem to regret it…
Reuben,
I’ll still be here…and you know that I love you like a son and always will.
KevinH,
“Maybe you just need not worry to keep conjuring up that fastball on a regular schedule and instead produce it only when you are inspired or the Spirit moves.’
It was strange…as soon as I hit publish on this post I felt free to write again…
Thanks for the kind words…I think I passed Favre around 2019… 🙂
DavidM,
Thank you for the kind words…you got me thinking…I fear becoming irrelevant a lot…though It’s part of the process, I think.
We’ll see how it goes…glad you’re part of my journey here and elsewhere, my friend.
Josh,
That was a pretty damn good five…and thanks for being a friend all these years.
I have been here for 19 years, and I can’t express my thoughts better than what Josh, Reuban, and Kevin have said.
I may not always comment, but I read “things” each week with great interest. It has already been said, but perhaps you can take some pressure off by not always adhering to a list of 10. You’ve touched many lives, including mine, and irrelevance need not be a concern, imo.
Bob, CK…many thanks…didn’t expect this, but I’m grateful…
Michael
If you measure your ministry by the vision of Christ implied in the model of His life and His commands of the New Covenant focused on the “one another’s”; then you have succeeded and are thriving without discounting the weariness and at times the discouragement that settles over and in us because the ministry of faith is a hard work to undertake and significant battle to face.
25 years . You have persevered and grown in the process without devaluing the focus on the one or two individuals impacted or influenced in the moment.
I celebrate you and how you have been a catalyst in forging a community of wounded healers that discover the fellowship of His sufferings with glimpses of the power of His resurrection.
Thank you, vic…if only part of that is true, we did ok…
Things I Think doesn’t need to be ten, perhaps five, or two (in order to be plural…) but I also appreciate that you don’t simply pluck low hanging fruit and complain about pet peeves or ‘remember when’ pieces. I think the scripture’s emphasis on faithfulness is well-placed, for it is the one thing we can perhaps hold on to–simply holding on. The results are always on God’s side of the ledger. You continue to run a course that few would embark upon and weariness is to be expected–you’re in good company.
Your comments about the institutionalization of abuses is commentary on the parable of the mustard seed.
All your comments were well worth reading, most always are. Some people, like me, take longer to recognize the dents.
I *really* appreciate that you expect things to fade in terms of relevance. While I think you may be a bit too early in thinking you are getting there, it is comforting to know that you are not holding on too tightly to something God gave you and that you are willing to give it back or take it up again. Thanks for your patience and perseverance.