14 March 2008
Reverence
The Missing Piece
This has been on my heart for well over 2 years, but I’ve been too much of a wimp to write about it because I didn’t want to cause waves. Then I started thinking about Jesus and the way He lived His life on this issue and, well, let’s just say, “Surf’s Up!”
Seriously, one would need to be deaf, dumb and blind to miss the fact that Jesus was, is, and always will be, controversial. But, for the deaf, dumb and blind reading this by brail, get someone to read you this verse, and this one, and a whole slew of others that refer to the fact that Jesus’ ways were stumbling blocks for a lot of people!
Most people!
In fact, at one time of another, all people!
Even those who come to embrace Him and His ways. Even as Christ followers, this life often feels like 2 steps forward and 1 step back. Hey, it’s still a net gain of a step! But it’s difficult not to place all our focus on the steps backwards—the temporary loss rather than the net gain. It’s a kinda similar to my tendency to focus on that one critical comment even amongst 100 good comments.
You do it too.
But then comes the blind spot (here’s where ‘reverence’ enters the picture). To compensate for being too pessimistic, a lot of us have learned to plow ahead in each and every situation like
IN YOUR FACE!
In Jesus’ name of course.
“What does that mean, pastor Rob?”
Well, let me begin by sharing the title of a book I just read that pretty much set me over the edge. It’s also important to state right up front that I am not referring to any one pastor here (people love to claim that I blasted so and so on my blog, but, that’s all in their head. If I mean to blast so and so I will tell you who so and so is to remove all doubt. However, for the most part, I try to refrain from naming names. It’s not helpful to anyone). The book was about the new “
Anyway, the book is called, “The New Christians — Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier.” It’s an interesting read in places, but more importantly, it confirmed what I already suspected. The emergent church doesn’t bring much new to the table as far as what it really means to be a Christ follower. Most of its leaders seem to be disgruntled children of the Seeker Sensitive era rather than the majority of spiritually hungry, unchurched masses trying everything from Buddhism to wicka. So, right off the bat I’m afraid they have the wrong target. However, the movement does bring a new attitude. And that attitude is the “IN YOUR FACE!” stuff I referred to above. Seriously, from cussing preachers to heretical statements made by Starbucks theologians with a degree in cappuccino, to an almost obsessive desire to be so inclusive of everyone that the notion of sin is pretty much thrown out the window—this stuff is hard to believe.
Now, you need to understand a couple things here because this is where it gets a little tricky. You see, what’s ‘emerging’ would never be described (by the leaders) as abrasive or ‘in your face,’ no, they pride themselves on being loving and inclusive, however, they tend to act the opposite when they are challenged. And, another thing we all need to understand if you’re planning on staying with me for this series, is that the ‘reverence issue‘ is not unique to the ‘emergent church.’ Many of those reacting to the emergents act the same way. No, the absence of reverence is almost a problem across the board, across denominations and non-denominations, emergents and non-emergents–even traditionalists and more contemporary folks (although the more traditional churches seem to have a greater sense of how important this is to God than many of their more contemporary friends).
Cool? Well, that much said, let me hasten to add,
It’s still hard to believe any Christ Follower with even a year of foundational truth under his belt would even consider this stuff. Let alone embrace it.
Well, I will talk about this over the next few weeks, but I’ll lay it out in general now so you all can think about it and, hopefully comment. Your 2 cents is worth a whole lot more to me.
Here it is. I’m talking about a new generation of pastors who cuss, scream, self-promote, act like rock stars, travel with posses, demand respect, hurt others almost daily, insist on being served but refuse to serve, surround themselves with ‘yes’ men and women, operate by a different set of rules than they ask others to operate under, and routinely dismiss those who try to speak truth into their lives.
One of my favorite preachers on the west coast is obviously a gifted communicator, but he can’t seem to go more than 2 sermons in a row without profanity. Where does a holy God fit in that? Is it impressing someone? Reaching someone? Is there a target group who will only find Jesus this way?
If so, I’m missing it.
Now, at a time when congress is investigating “men and women of God” we need to be more above reproach than ever, but instead, we carry on like the religious version of Madonna as the world looks on in disgust.
Is this how Jesus did ministry?
Not even close. But these guys are popping up everywhere you look.
Seriously, there aren’t just 1 or 2 of them.
There are 100’s! And it’s growing everyday because up and coming pastors think they won’t be heard unless they find a newer, more edgy way to say things. Unfortunately, edgy and new seem to be merging with abrasive and irreverent.
But pastor! Some would say at times that describes you!
At times it has, and for that I am truly sorry. It’s easy to get caught up in this stuff. But let me caution all pendulum swingers out there not to sway too far one way or the other. God didn’t call pastors to be Stepford ministers either. We are to be men of passion and conviction.
But never at the expense of reverence.
“But God is love, Pastor Rob! Surely He loves our enthusiastic support. I really feel like He wants me to be edgy!”
You’re right, God is love and I hope you are edgy—better that than irrelevant for sure. It’s 2008, not 1958. But again I say to you.
Not at the expense of reverence.
We’re quick to remind everyone that “God is Love,” but slow to bring up the truth that “God is also Holy.”
Well pastor, what about some of the worldly series you do and the crazy names of sermons and all? What about, “The Matrix, American Idol, and , dare I say it, Friends with Benefits?!”
What about them?
I’m not glorifying “Friends with Benefits” — I’m exposing it for the empty, sad and depressing life it actually delivers. We have to talk about this stuff, but—
Not flippantly toward God or His Word.
You say, “sounds like you’re just splitting hairs, Rob.”
I’m not, but I understand that it might look that way at first.
That’s why this is just part 1!
PS Don’t forget to check out the newest Southbrook website. This one is for helping those just starting out on the church planting adventure. It’s called, planting by the brook, and you can find it here.
8 Comments currently posted.
Marty C says:
K Sanford says:
Pastor Rob,
I had this same discussion this morning with my spouse. We spoke about who is really in the pulpit for their own glory. Together we named several churchs who’s leadership is mostly done by yelling. They dress fancy and sitting in golden chairs on alters built unto them self.
This is an issue that I really feel strongly about. No one can lead unless they are reverent and humble before the Lord. We see it all the time in the news and on TV where those that call themselves Reverend, and Pastor make ministry out to be a circus. They shock, embarass and scream at their congregation with their extream language, and telling the unsaved they are horrid and wicked. They intentionally use hurtful and demeaning words. This is not the passion Christ. It will not convert the non believer but chase them farther away. It is not the loving and caring nature of the Lord. They do not help people that are hurting to heal they wound them more. They do not take in the sinner and show them the light. They come across as actors not ministers of the word. it saddens me to see the tolerance for these Pastors. Even worse it seems to have a growing presence here in the USA.
There are too many that are lost that see these other pastors and think “if that is Christianity why should I believe”. It really looks bad and draws those in need of salvation farther away from the church. Honestly are those leaders working for the glory of Christ our Lord ? Without reverence who are they really serving?
I am glad you are addressing this issue. Many would hide from this issue. I know that Southbrook is the place for my family it is a safe, loving, reverent and ever relevant worship for the Lord giving him praise and glory. There is none of the self serving attitude in the pastoral group. I like the down to earth leadership that is all for the Glory of God.
Your a great pastor, occasionally pushing the issues but you do not crossing the line and loose focus on the Glory of God and the gift of salvation. Keep it up and stay on this discussion no matter how heated it gets. This issue needs to be brought to light.
Curt says:
I do believe that I get the main point, but I’ll be looking for the rest of the blogs on this topic.
There is one thing that I would like to say though…. I’ll bet that Jesus was very calm and didn’t scream at all when he was knocking over the money tables in the temple and slashing people with a wip……
Rob says:
Curt,
If you listen to a few of my podcasts, you’ll hear that I am passionate and occasionally “righteously angry” so, yes there are times for these things. But what are you known by? Jesus was gracious and loving 90 percent of the time and throwing over tables in the temple and fashioning whips about 2 percent of the time.
The other 8%?
Somewhere in between.
But 0% of his energy went into sinning. He was totally righteous and completely sinLESS. You will find no passage of irreverence toward His Father.
Toward religion?
Absolutely! I slam religion all the time. Jesus didn’t come to bring religion. He came to bring relationship.
But, you’re gut instinct is right. I will be talking about the difference in part 2.
Thanks for waiting.
Rob says:
Also…
I’d put Jesus’ casting out of the “money changers” from the temple right up there with some of the Holiest (cleansing) acts in all of scripture. It was VERY reverent– very relevant
Don’t equate reverence with wimpiness..
K Hinkle says:
It’s been days so this comment is probably too delayed for anyone to pay attention to, but I think Southbrook is about as close as I’ve seen a church come to modeling what Jesus is about.
The world’s downward sloping morality wants churches to believe that in order to win hearts you need to slide with it. In reality churches that grow by being inclusive or entertaining with shock-value behavior get to grow, but without Christ.
There is a real harvest of seekers in Union County made up of those not taken in by irreverence.
My husband took years to come to the Lord. He came back week after week to Southbrook because he could see no reason not to trust this church and its integrity. From the small group leaders, to his friends, to the pastor, Tom saw Christ being put first at all times. Since he was a man who rarely uttered a cuss word in our 14 years of marriage, it wouldn’t have taken much shock value or inclusion of behaviors unacceptable to Christ to make Tom walk from a church- he looked for it and never found it. Instead, he found grace and salvation.
In spite of what the media tries to show us, there are more people than we realize that, like Tom, are doing life in a respectable way, but haven’t yet met the Lord. Shocking them by bending to culture is unnecessary. The church’s relevance and “cool” tone balanced with reverence is what the true seeker needs.
Kate says:
Thanks for that last clarifying comment about reverence not being the same as wimpiness! Sometimes I confuse them in my own life.
But it also makes me think about when Jesus will return. There will be nothing at all wimpy about it, but I’m sure there will be NO denying the reverence for God he will bring with him.
and reverent doesn’t have to mean quiet either. King David made that clear with his pslams and his joyful dancing in the street!
robsingleton.net » Reverence — Part 2 says:
[…] case you missed out on part one of this deal, you might want to read this before reading today’s […]
Pastor, I look forward to your series on this topic. Yes, this is a can of worms, but it’s a can of worms that needs to be opened. Because if I was read the following paragraph you wrote by itself:
“Here it is. I’m talking about a new generation of pastors who cuss, scream, self-promote, act like rock stars, travel with posses, demand respect, hurt others almost daily, insist on being served but refuse to serve, surround themselves with ‘yes’ men and women, operate by a different set of rules than they ask others to operate under, and routinely dismiss those who try to speak truth into their lives.”
I would think you were describing cult leaders and not ‘men of God’ . That’s not good.
Growing up it seemed reverence was more about wearing a 3-piece suit and not running in church. But reverence comes from the heart. It’s not something you wear, it’s some you live.
I’ll be praying of you.