Fad or Faith?

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (James 1:19-21)

COVID-19 is spiking to its highest levels in the Upper Midwest, far outpacing the summer wave. Most states with the highest COVID infection rates in the country form a ring around Minnesota. Our state is not quite as severe, but rural southwest Minnesota is the hottest quadrant in the state. Earlier this week I had a serious discussion with our elders about closing the church building again. After difficult debate, we did not take that step. Under certain conditions, however, closing down remains a future possibility. And so the COVID story continues to unfold. It is nowhere near finished.

When widespread response to the pandemic began in March, the governor’s stay-at-home order provided citizens an opportunity to hit the “reset” button for our priorities and habits. In my case, the freedom to control my complete schedule allowed me to exercise more and eat less. The motivation was simple. My flabby physical condition and my fourth-quarter age put me at higher risk for COVID complications and death. I wanted to be highly prepared to contract, not just avoid, the nasty virus.

An unintended consequence of the strict, new regimen turned out to be weight loss. I didn’t step on the scales at the beginning because weight loss wasn’t a goal. But as my weight decreased, my motivation increased. Soon I began to track it. I pushed hard on the exercise bike. I pulled back from the dinner table. My motivation was so strong that I wasn’t even hungry for three or four months.

A few people commented, “It must have been hard to lose all that weight.” No, it wasn’t hard because I wasn’t even trying. Until I was. It just happened. Until it didn’t. Somewhere around July or August, I found it easier to miss a day of exercise. We were no longer locked down. The novelty of COVID was gone. My schedule was more complicated. The bicycle became an unwelcome intrusion each morning. About that time I also began to get hungry. When it gets hard, most diets fade and the results are temporary. But a lifestyle change is permanent. A question from the back of my mind in March jumped to the front of my thinking in August. Is this a diet or a lifestyle change? The answer will determine my future.

During the pandemic and the accompanying social unrest, economic upheaval, and political polarization of the 2020 election, our church has been crying out to God to help us become quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Several times recently, as part of a sermon series based on James 1:19-21, the congregation has prayed in unison, “Heavenly Father, help me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”

Is it a fad or faith? The answer will determine our future as a church, especially in the aftermath of whatever comes next.

Listening Exercise #2 – The Talking Tomato

“My African American friends are marching. Not because they want to ‘defund the police’ or ‘burn it all down.’ But because they are tired. Tired of carrying a weight that no one seems to notice.” Phil Vischer

Listening exercises become more personal when the speaker is a family member. Phil Vischer is well known to the C&MA family. He attended Saint Paul Bible College, now Crown College, for three semesters, though he did not graduate. A rumor spread that Vischer had flunked out of school. He clarified what really happened on his 300^th podcast, “I was invited not to return. I did not fail anything except chapel.”

Vischer is a co-creator of the animated video series VeggieTales, which has sold 65 million copies in the United States. My favorite part of the show is the silly song in the middle of the show. Just for fun, this week I googled “The Hairbrush Song” and found it on YouTube. So have 16,529,776 other people.

Vischer is the voice actor for Bob the Tomato and about half the characters in the show. Despite his fame and creativity, Vischer has endured major failure, as his website biography explains:

And then, at the peak of Phil’s success, everything turned upside down.  Over-aggressive expansion coupled with a lawsuit from a former distributor forced Phil’s company, Big Idea Productions, into bankruptcy in 2003.  Phil lost his company, his characters, his dream.  What he didn’t lose, though, was his relationship with God.  On the contrary, losing everything showed Phil that God was all he had ever needed in the first place.  Rather than losing hope, Phil found himself with a ministry he never expected – a ministry to anyone who has lost a dream.  Phil detailed the dramatic rise and fall of his dream and the lessons learned in his book, Me, Myself & Bob.

Eventually the lawsuit verdict was overturned and Vischer regained control of his VeggieTales characters again, but the damage had been done. Big Idea Productions was already bankrupt. With a heart broken by personal failure, Vischer developed a vulnerable voice on the gospel and social issues. I can think of nobody else who matches Vischer’s rare combination of humor and humility. Skye Jethani, Phil’s co-host on the weekly Holy Post podcast (and a former C&MA pastor), is a perfect straight man to sharpen Phil’s comedy into powerful teaching points. I’ve never met Phil Vischer, but he feels like a friend, just like Bob the Tomato.

Acting on a whim in mid-June, Vischer pieced together a video talk about race in America. He hesitantly posted it on his ministry site and on YouTube. It already has been viewed over 6 million times. I was shocked by Vischer’s video, not because it’s controversial, but because it contained so much information I had never heard before. Another viewer commented, “This is the most succinct, yet thorough explanation of policy-driven racial disparity I’ve ever come across.” In subsequent podcasts, Vischer and Jethani have deconstructed how this bold project unfolded and the aftermath.

You will need about 18 fast-paced minutes of your time, as well as an open mind and a teachable spirit, to actively listen to Phil Vischer’s video entitled “Let’s Talk About Race in America.” Let’s get started. Here’s the link:

Let’s Talk About Race in America

Listening Exercise #1 – The Grieving Pastor

“As a black man, a pastor of an inner-city church, and the father of two highly accomplished black children, I find myself in ‘abysmal pain.’ I’m bleeding spiritually and emotionally from the stinging lash of indifference. And yet, of all organizations on the planet, it is ours, the Church, that has been given the instructions and the responsibility to address and correct the wounds of society.” Michael Phillips

Tony Evans was a doctoral student and an instructor of pastoral ministries when I started my studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. As a student, I attended over two hundred chapel services. Many of the speakers were outstanding communicators. But nobody made us laugh harder than Tony Evans. Our Presbyterian orderly silence was shattered as he retold the story of “Shadrach, Meshach and a bad Negro” from Daniel chapter 3. It’s one of my most vivid chapel memories from DTS.

Not much earlier, the seminary didn’t even admit black students. In fact, Tony Evans was only the fourth African American student to attend the school and the first to earn a doctorate of theology degree. The story on campus was that the esteemed Dr. Howard Hendricks, who served on the admissions committee, threatened to resign if they wouldn’t admit students of color. They yielded and Hendricks stayed.

As a student from the majority culture–nearly a homogeneous white culture on campus–I did not understand or appreciate the difficulties Tony Evans and other black students endured as they broke through the racial barriers. I did not understand the pain of systemic racial profiling, even though I sought to befriend some of the few black students on campus. They adapted to my white world, but I didn’t even recognize anything about their black world.

Such racial naivety was the norm on campus among white students. Tony Evans went on to become a church statesman of international prominence by learning to excel in a white majority culture while challenging the evangelical church to address the complexities of racial injustice. He still pins his hope on the church to lead the way toward racial healing in our nation:

“The racial problem is an unresolved dilemma of America. Racial problems have gone on since America’s inception because their root has not been addressed by the people who are most qualified to address it: the church.” Tony Evans

Tony Evans is a master of metaphor and humor. His sermons are downloaded 20 million times each year. He has eloquently addressed racial issues around the world. When George Floyd died under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer this past Memorial Day, Tony Evans set aside his classic humor and posted a video expressing the pain in his heart. In less than three months, it already has been viewed nearly half a million times on YouTube.

Now it’s our turn. We need to do more than merely view the video. We must listen for understanding. To do that, we’ll have to enter Dr. Evan’s world as he tells his story. Will you listen with me? Here’s the link:

Dr. Tony Evans speaks from his heart about social injustice

 

Righteousness and Justice: The Foundation of God’s Throne

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. (Psalm 89:14)

C&MA President John Stumbo today released a video blog projecting a path forward for The Christian and Missionary Alliance to address issues of racism and injustice. I endorse this vision and I seek to walk a path of righteousness and justice in my life and in the church. Will you join me?

https://www.cmalliance.org/video/watch/46023/

Open Letter on Racism

AN OPEN LETTER ON RACISM FROM ALLIANCE DISTRICT AND ASSOCIATION LEADERS

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (NIV)

The sins of racism and injustice have plagued our nation since its inception. Sadly, we have even witnessed its effects and damage throughout the history of the Church. The devastating loss of lives in the Black community in recent weeks, including the killings of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd, has reminded us that injustice still runs rampant in our nation, still strips the Black community of dignity, and still attacks the beauty of the image of God in all humanity. Add to these incidents, the unjust harassment of Christian Cooper while he was birdwatching in Central Park and the killing of Breonna Taylor under suspicious circumstances.

We, the district superintendents and association presidents of The Christian and Missionary Alliance, who give oversight to Alliance churches and ethnic associations in the United States, Puerto Rico, The Bahamas, and Guam, and who function in this movement under the oversight of the vice president for Church Ministries, formally denounce racism, injustice, and any and all systems and actions of any group and/or laws that seek to make themselves racially and/or ethnically superior over any other group of people, including Blacks, Native Americans, Asians, and Hispanics. We stand in staunchest opposition to groups that promote white supremacy, anti-Semitism, and others that avow discrimination and segregation of any kind.

Further, we denounce any acts of violence, oppression, or discrimination in any form against any and all people groups that have been marginalized, oppressed, and/or treated as less than human because of their race, background, or socioeconomic status. As a multiethnic, multicultural, diverse movement, whose founder affirmed the humanity and dignity of all people, we declare today that we will not tolerate any acts of racism and/or injustice that we become aware of in any of the districts and/or associations that we oversee.

We repent of any acts of racism and/or injustice—past or present—that have taken place in any of our districts and/or associations, be they overt or covert. We break off any demonic strongholds that have resulted and remain because of these acts. And, we welcome a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to cleanse our districts and associations and bring a fresh anointing upon each and every one of us, as we declare that we will honor, celebrate, and promote the beauty of the image of God in all of humanity.

It is not just sinful for racism and injustice to exist in our country and/or churches. The Church stands complicit by sitting silent when racism and injustice run rampant in our nation. It is, therefore, the call and the responsibility of the Church to lead the charge in speaking against any and all acts of racism and/or injustice. We stand firm in urging every church of The Christian and Missionary Alliance that falls under our charge to proclaim salvation through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross, to announce His Kingdom of righteousness and justice, to denounce all forms of racism and injustice, and seek to be the voice of change in our communities, where the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized, the outcast, and those who have been the victims of any form of racism or injustice in our communities can find refuge, hope, dignity, and love.

As we have just celebrated Pentecost Sunday, the day on which the Holy Spirit was poured out on the early followers of Jesus, we recognize that Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled. In the fulfillment of that prophecy, we also see that the Holy Spirit anointed and blessed the beauty of the diversity of the Kingdom of God. Further, as the early Church grew, so did the diversity of the Church. As a result, we celebrate the beauty in the diversity of God’s Kingdom!

Finally, to the members and adherents of our movement that comprise the Black community, we say today that we lament with you. We are listening to you. We seek to be agents of change with you. And we stand alongside of you. Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.

In the love of Jesus,

The District Superintendents and Association Presidents of The Christian and Missionary Alliance

Han Young Baek, District Superintendent, Korean District Héctor Belén Jr., District Superintendent, Spanish Central District Scott R. Borderud, District Superintendent, Southwestern District Jeffrey P. Brown, District Superintendent, Western Great Lakes District Harris W. Campbell, Interim District Superintendent, Southeastern District Lorenzo M. Collado Jr., President, Association of Filipino Churches Douglas G. Conley, District Superintendent, Mid-Atlantic District Jorge Cuevas, District Superintendent, Spanish Eastern District Sarkis A. Diarbi, President, Arabic-Speaking Association Thomas R. Flanders, District Superintendent, New England District Thomas George, District Superintendent, Great Lakes District Siyum Gebretsadik, President, Association of African Churches Javier Gómez Marrero, District Superintendent, Puerto Rico District Philip H. Hagar, District Superintendent, Southern District Marc S. Horace, President, Haitian Association Nathan D. Howard, District Superintendent, Eastern PA District Mony Khiev, District Superintendent, Cambodian District Thach V. Le, District Superintendent, Vietnamese District Héctor F. Lecaro, President, Spanish Western Association David B. Linn, District Superintendent, Northeastern District William W. Malick, District Superintendent, South Pacific District Jeffrey A. Miller, District Superintendent, Central District Ronald J. Morrison, President, African-American Pastors, Consecrated Women, and Licensed Workers Association David A. Nagel, District Superintendent, Western PA District Michael D. Noel, District Superintendent, South Atlantic District Dennis D. Pust, Interim District Superintendent, Alliance Northwest District Jonathan W. Rich, District Superintendent, Midwest District Mark R. Searing, District Superintendent, Ohio Valley District Daniel J. Scarrow, District Superintendent, North Central District Hendy Siu, President, Association of Montagnard Churches J. Wayne Spriggs, District Superintendent, Central Pacific District Robert W. Storey, District Superintendent, MidAmerica District Lantzia C. Thao, District Superintendent, Hmong District Kelvin L. Walker, District Superintendent, Metropolitan District Jonathan A. Wiggins, District Superintendent, Rocky Mountain District Zane M. Williams, President, Native American Association Kok C. Wong, President, Chinese Churches Association

Help Me Breathe

“Change happens at the speed of relationship,” Ronald Morrison.

My heart has been broken recently as racial injustice in our nation once again has been exposed in all its ugliness and putrefying stench. Kelvin L. Walker, District Superintendent of the Metro District of the C&MA, wrote a passionate and eloquent poem last week lamenting the injustice. In addition, yesterday he co-hosted a panel discussion with C&MA President John Stumbo about Race, Justice, and the Church’s Response.

Kelvin L. Walker

May 26 at 8:17 PM

I…
Can’t…
Breathe…

It’s a simple phrase
It’s just three words
Yet, the power of them
Said over and over again
Should have been enough
To alert those
Who were constraining him
That the force they were using
Was beyond unnecessary
It was cruel and excessive
And they should have backed off
To let him catch his breath
Instead, he now he’s now dead…silent
But we wouldn’t know what happened
Without the video speaking for him
Because, obviously, he can’t speak for himself anymore

I…
Can’t…
Breathe…

Birdwatching while Black
And, then comes the attack
Simply because he asked her
To put her dog on a leash
And though SHE came at HIM
She calls the police ON him
Screaming that she’s being threatened BY him
While he calmly films the incident
It was for his own protection
But he shouldn’t have to live that way
Nobody should
Videoing every movement that you make
All because, without it, your life could be at stake
Well, truthfully, even with the video
You’re not guaranteed you’ll go free
But one thing is sure to me
Something needs to change because
I’m at the point where, personally
I’m tired of hearing the words…

I…
Can’t…
Breathe…

She worked her shift and came home
Simply sleeping in the bed that was her own
And numerous bullets later, she’s gone
But life goes on as if hers didn’t matter BECAUSE…
We’re told to “Wait for all of the facts.”
I don’t know much
But what I do know is this
While we “wait for the facts”
I am now wrestling inside
Because, wherever I go
I feel like MY camera must be on
Ready to video my surroundings
So that, from beginning to end
The evidence will not be questioned

Dramatic, you might say
However, I see no other way
That I can make it today
Or my beautiful Black daughters and sons
Or my grandbabies that are yet to come
In this day and age
I shouldn’t have worry or dismay
Over whether or not they’ll make it home safely
Or if, even with video evidence, they’ll be believed
But this is reality in the nation in which we live

And, I’m at the point where I say almost daily
Dear Lord Jesus, please come quickly
You are the Only One who can bring true justice
But until You return
Move Your Church to reject this
Move Your people speak out against this violence
Without questioning or putting the VICTIMS on trial
Move Your people stop living in denial
We must face, without hesitation
That injustice is imbedded in the core of this nation
And Your Church can’t stay silent about racism and discrimination
May we rise up and say, “We will tolerate it no more.”
May this make us sick to our very core
And, I beg of you, People of God, speak up now
For, it’s just too much and I no longer know how
I can explain, yet again, why we must begin
To do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him

So Church, HELP ME BREATHE
Stand up and say, “No more!”
Reject injustice at its very core
Brothers and sisters, HELP ME BREATHE
Weep, wail, and lament
Over lives senselessly taken by evil intent
People of God, HELP ME BREATHE
Root out injustice at its core
Let that which God abhors
Be abhorred by you and me
Until the day we all stand free
And see the Imago Dei in all humanity
Then, and only then
Will we put a stop to the craziness
That fuels racism and injustice
But, until then, I’ll pray for you
And you pray for me because, right now…

I…
Can’t…
Breathe…

#GeorgeFloyd
#ChristianCooper
#BreyonnaTaylor

Race, Justice, and the Church’s Response

Persecution

The dreaded “P” word, persecution, has been in the news again recently. There have been stories about religious attacks against people in China, Syria, Somalia, and Egypt. Most of what we hear in our media is about attacks against Christians. However, not all religious discrimination is directed toward Christians. Religious persecution also targets Jews, Muslims and other minorities, even atheists. If Christians are going to speak up for religious liberty as a civil right, let’s be sure to defend the practices of other religions, too. If Christians have the right to plant a church in America, Mus­lims have the same right to build a mosque. As followers of Jesus, we speak up for the dignity of all individuals, not just believers.

About a week ago, several of our elders attended a conference for rural church leaders in Litchfield, Minnesota.  One of the speakers was Leith Anderson, who is president of the National Association for Evangelicals. In a Q&A session, Anderson noted that one of the greatest fears of white evangelicals is the rise of persecution in America. He said he was at a meeting recently in Washington, D.C., where some pastors were asking where they could find help to prepare for the coming hostility. A black pastor stood up and said the black church could teach them how to prepare for persecution because they’ve been dealing with it for 300 years.

Perhaps it’s debatable whether the racial discrimination blacks have suffered in America is worthy to be described as persecution. It might depend on which side of the racial divide you stand. But it doesn’t appear to be debatable that the white evangelical church is afraid of persecution in America. Evangelical news outlets such as The Christian Post have been featuring many reports this week about persecution and the fear of persecution. The current issue of Christianity Today features a cover story on the Benedict Option, written by Rod Dreher. It’s a strategy for Christians in a declining culture, e.g. persecution. World Magazine also prominently features articles on persecution.

A fear of religious persecution may be new to white Americans. But it’s not new to the rest of the world. Religious persecution has been business as usual in many parts of the globe for centuries. For Christians it all started in Acts 4, which is a primer on persecution. This minor event in the life of the early church is the first word, but not the last word, on religious persecution in the book of Acts. Of course, we in America don’t endure the same kinds of religious oppression as much of the rest of the world. There’s really no comparison. But there still is a huge takeaway for us from this story—a les­son in human relations.

Persecution may–or may not–be coming to America. But it’s already reality in much of the world. That’s reason enough to care about it. This Sunday at New Life Church in Clarkfield, Minnesota, we’ll consider the prospect of persecution from the perspective of Acts 4. If you’re in the area, you’re invited to attend as a guest. You can check out what to expect at http://www.newlifecma.com.