If you’re a regular subscriber and missed getting the blog last week, I’m sorry about that. I was a bit overwhelmed with some other projects and deadlines which I’ll explain. It was my first time to skip a week since starting in June 2016!
As I shared in a recent bi-monthly ministry update, I’m getting ready to do a soft launch Sunday, January 30th, of a weekly digital message/service for our new church plant, Mantua Creek. Because of that, over the last two weeks, I spent four to five days remodeling my office and adding an additional built-in bookcase.
In the spirit of also being mentally and spiritually constructive, I decided that instead of just breathing in the paint fumes, listening to classic rock, and getting depressed about how long these projects take, I was going to make the investment and listen to all 18 episodes of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast produced by Christianity Today. I found them to be not only outstanding examples of in-depth, honest, and nuanced journalism but also chocked full of wise observations and analysis. Here’s CT’s description of their content: “Hosted by Mike Cosper, this podcast takes you inside the story of Mars Hill Church in Seattle – from its founding as part of one of the largest church planting movements in American history to its very public dissolution—and the aftermath that followed. You’ll hear from people who lived this story, experiencing the triumphs and losses of Mars Hill, knowing it as both an amazing, life-transforming work of God and as a dangerous, abusive environment. The issues that plague Mars Hill and its founder, Mark Driscoll — dangers like money, celebrity, youth, scandal, and power—aren’t unique, and only by looking closely at what happened in Seattle will we be able to see ourselves.”
The Mars Hill series—which, again, I highly recommend—is over now but I just found another with similar evangelical conviction and journalistic integrity. It’s called Good Faith from the news source, the Dispatch. Additionally, it features one of my favorite Christian leaders– former lawyer, journalist, and cultural commentator David French, and his co-host and long-time friend, Pastor Curtis Chang. Just to give you a taste, on an episode called “Deconstructing Faith: Necessary, Dangerous or Both?,” here’s how they answered the following related to our topic this week:
- Who can I trust?
- What church can I possibly even join?
- How do I tell if an institution is trustworthy?
From Curtis: “Sure, look at the doctrines of faith they sign, listen to their old sermons, but you know what? That’s not actually the best [measure] of trustworthiness. Here’s what you really should do: Find somebody who’s been on staff at that church for a long time… and ask, ‘when was the last time someone from the inner circle… on the staff challenged the pastor and how did that pastor respond?’ If they can’t name something like in the last six months or it’s clear that didn’t go that well. That is a red flag because the leader has got to be surrounded by people who are willing to do that.”
From David: “The list of charismatic predators is long. In fact, it’s their very charisma that enables them to often be predators for a long time… There is nothing that is foolproof… But before [using measures like] the youth ministry… the charisma of the pastor, ask yourself if you see the fruits of the Spirit… [In other words,] in your interactions with the institution and the people are you seeing love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Are you seeing those qualities?”
Finally, if you’re a church leader or pastor, David went on in that podcast to say something specifically to you—something, however, that’s actually relevant to all of us: “I have friends in my life who have total freedom to play what I call ‘the &#%-hole card,’ which is ‘You are being an ass, David.” They have total freedom to say that to me… If [as a leader], there are not people in your life to say that to you… or you won’t hear that, that should be a warning sign.”
As I write about in my book How I Became a Christian Despite the Church that I’m updating with the insights above, I pray– if you don’t have one now– you’ll find and become part of a healthy church that’s safeguarded by a team of humble, accountable, and loving leaders.