I am not sure how I stumbled across this message. It was likely on Twitter under the #ChurchToo hashtag. I am incredibly grateful for Diane Langberg, Ph.D., for her words of wisdom last year entitled Power, Deception, and the Church.

The entire message is worth listening to, but this quote (around the 31 minute mark) struck me as particularly timely for The Church in the Western World.

Here's some of what Dr. Langsberg said about loving Christian leaders who abuse their power:

"And yes, the abuser - like all of us - is invited to be part of the ungiven [the protective Christian community], but that only becomes possible (and hear me clearly) when the light is shining in the darkness, and the offender falls down before our crucified God knowing that it is against that wounded savior that he has sinned.  And that abuser, who gets to that place, will demand nothing from any human – no position, no place of power, no restoration, no forgiveness. He will acknowledge (she will acknowledge) the inability to live in truth, and know better than anybody else knows that they are not to be trusted and that the actions they committed are theirs and theirs alone.

This is how we love abusers: By letting them be stripped of the trappings that they have used to deceive themselves.”

It seems to me that God is in the process of purifying his Church here in America. Part of that process is bringing many forms of spiritual abuse to light.

I am largely posting this so I can find this for future use, but I hope you find it useful too.

I want to offer a word of caution to my fellow pastors about seeking popularity.

As I confessed to my congregation in my sermon last Sunday, I have sought attention and popularity for much of my life. I lie to myself, thinking that if I were more popular, I could have a better impact on the world for Christ.

If I'm honest, though, that is a false virtue I try to wrap around my self-centered quest for personal glory.

Before most of my sermons I pray, "May Christ increase, so I may decrease." I must pray this. It is not a reality of my heart, it is a plea for God to change my heart.

God says: I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another (Isaiah 42:8a HCSB).

A few months ago, I read Michael York's odd, yet satisfying memoir of filming the movie Megiddo: The Omega Code 2. In it, he recounted a quote from John Updike: Celebrity is a mask that eats into the face.

I intended to post John Updike’s quote for a few weeks, and then I came to Luke 11:42-12:3 in my sermon series through the Gospel of Luke. In his famous woes, Jesus condemns the Pharisees' obsession with popularity and attention: Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces (Luke 11:43).

I used Updike’s quote here.

So this post is a caution, but mostly for me: Celebrity is a mask that eats into the face.

I have been slowly working my way through Preaching in Hitler's Shadow: Sermons of Resistance in the Third Reich edited by Dean G. Stroud.

Until this book, I had never heard of Pastor Julius Von Jan. He is not a major figurehead in the resistance against the Nazis. But his voice mattered.

When the Nazis began to their attack against Jews in November 1938, Von Jan spoke out against the Nazis. I have included below, some quotations from his sermon, O Land, Land, Land: Hear the Word of the Lord! Shortly after this sermon was delivered, he was dragged from his home by approximately 500 Nazis, beaten publicly by the Nazi mob, and imprisoned.

He survived the war. He is not household name. As far as I know, the only available English translation of his sermon must be purchased. And yet, his voice mattered. His courage mattered. And I think he still speaks to us today.

This is a follow-up to some of the feedback I have received over the last two weeks.
 
I believe that when a pastor commits adultery, it always carries with it an element of abuse. I have laid out my thoughts below.
 

When A Pastor Pursues a Congregant, He Abuses His Authority

A pastor is called to be the chief servant of a church. Christian leaders are given enormous power and authority so that they can serve their people. When a pastor pursues a congregant, he is misusing his authority to fulfill his sexual desires, rather than using his authority to serve the congregant.
 

Think about it like this:
Imagine you were a mid-level manager in a large corporation. A mailroom kid tells you, “You should change the numbers on the company’s tax information. It will help us make more money.” How much pressure are you feeling to do something immoral? Not much. The kid has no structural power.

Next, a fellow manager comes to you and says, “You should change our tax numbers.” How much pressure are you feeling now? A little bit more, I’d imagine.

Finally, the CEO calls you into his office and says, “You should change the tax numbers.” How much pressure are you feeling now? It is probably enormous. Will you lose your job if you refuse? How will you provide for your family if you lose your income? And even if you keep your job, how could you ever get a promotion after you refused?
 

There is a similar pressure on a congregant when a pastor pursues and pressures her for sex. She loves her church. She has built a network of friends and family. The pastor baptized her children. Maybe he baptized her! And he speaks for God every single week!
 

When a pastor or Christian leader pursues one of his flock for sex, he is abusing his authority for his own sinful gain.
 

When A Pastor Commits Adultery with a Person Pursuing Him, He Abuses His Office

I imagine most people understand and agree that the previous scenario is predatory.
 
The disagreement comes in a situation where a congregant, or non-congregant sexually pursues a pastor. One could argue: While it is still wrong for a pastor to commit adultery with a person who is sexually aggressive with him, there is no abuse involved.
 
I disagree.


Think about it like this:
Jimmy has a major addiction to painkillers. He goes to his neighbor and asks for money, so he can buy the painkillers. The neighbor knows he has a problem, but gives him some money. Is this wrong of the neighbor? Absolutely. The neighbor is enabling Jimmy to sin.

Next, Jimmy asks his friend to swipe some of his grandma’s prescribed pills. His friend does so and gives them to Jimmy. Is this wrong of the friend? Absolutely. The friend is stealing and enabling Jimmy to sin.

Finally, Jimmy makes an appointment with a medical doctor. Jimmy goes into the appointment and offers to pay the doctor $5,000.00 in cash for a year’s supply of pain medication. What should the doctor do? He should refuse, and offer a variety of options to help Jimmy break free from his addiction.

But what if the doctor agrees? The doctor takes the money and writes him a prescription. Is this wrong? Of course. Is this an abuse of the doctor’s role? Absolutely. Is the doctor’s sin more grievous than the sins committed by the neighbor and friend? Certainly.
 
Why?

Because the doctor is not just an average man. He is a man who was licensed by a state after earning a medical degree from an accredited university. He is a man who has taken an oath to “first do no harm.” He, better than most, understands the physiological harm Jimmy is causing to himself, and the social harm he is causing to those around him.
 

In the same way, a pastor is not just an average man. He has been ordained by a congregation, which is not a conferring of authority, but a recognition that God Himself has called this person to guard, lead, and feed the flock of Christ before the foundations of the earth.
 
Just as a doctor should not receive bribe money from an addict, neither should a pastor receive adulterous advances of anyone. His job… His calling requires him to recognize that such advances are symptoms of sin. And like a good doctor, he should refuse the advances and speak of healing, forgiveness, and fulfillment that can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
If a pastor or Christian leader commits adultery with a person sexually pursuing him, he is abusing his office.
 

Conclusion

The Apostle Paul commanded young Timothy, “Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid”
​(1 Timothy 5:19-20 CSB).
 
Thinking my way through these issues has terrified me. I love the Lord, my wife, my children, and my church. I never want to bring shame to them by my actions. And, like all callings, I recognize that I am ill-equipped to do what Christ has called me to do. So, I fearfully pray that God the Holy Spirit will guard me, because I know I am not beyond the sin of adultery – which carries with it a greater violation for pastors.
 
So please pray for me and pray for your pastors.
 
Mostly, though, pray for those who have been abused by pastors – that they might still follow after Christ, find healing in him, and enjoy the fellowship of a church.

Dear Dr. Frank S. Page,
 
I am writing this letter for a number of reasons. First, it is to express my deep disappointment in your moral failing. Second, it is for the benefit of the church I serve, that they might follow Christ more closely. Finally, it is for the benefit of my friends and family who do not know Jesus.
 
I am a Millennial pastor serving in a small church in Northern Michigan. I was not raised in the SBC but having been serving in Southern Baptist churches for the last twelve years.
 
I can only assume from your follow-up statement to your first resignation that you mean adultery when you say “personal failing” and “personal indiscretion”. If this is the case, please clarify your sin. We live in a culture that uses language to minimize sin. Adultery is not an affair, a fling, or a personal indiscretion. When we minimize sin, we minimize our need for the Savior.
 
Because you have used terms that our entire culture will interpret as adultery, I am responding to your resignation with that assumption.
 
At the very least, I call on you to prorate any monies and benefits you received from the SBC (including travel, meals, conferences, etc.) from the time this relationship began. Please return these funds to the Cooperative Program. Both of the SBC churches I have served in have given faithfully and sacrificially to the CP. My current church is in desperate need of a larger sanctuary. We are growing in leaps and bounds. It is difficult for us to see our massive need to serve more people with the gospel, then look at our giving over the years and see that some of those funds have been used to enable you to lead us while committing grievous sin.
 
Please return the funds.
 
More importantly, if indeed you have committed adultery, your sin goes far beyond adultery. Because of your power, authority, and influence, it is sexual abuse. Perhaps it is not sexual abuse that is illegal but remember that the law is the absolute bottom of morality, not the top. Just because something is legal, does not mean it is moral or acceptable in God’s eyes.
 
King David sexually abused Bathsheba. He used his power to have sex with Bathsheba. When Nathan the Prophet confronted the king, Nathan said the rich man devoured the lamb. While we are not given insight into how David and Bathsheba’s sexual encounter played out in the bed chambers, God – speaking through the prophet – was very clear. What David did in taking the lamb and devouring it was abuse. In a very real way, David destroyed Bathsheba.
 
I found it ironic that on the same Sunday, a popular pastor in America described his sexual abuse of a teenager as a “sexual encounter” our small church was wrestling through 2 Samuel 13 – the rape of Tamar.
 
As we discussed this difficult topic, I communicated to the church that we would not sweep sexual abuse claims under the rug like so many organizations and churches have done. Instead we would immediately separate the accused, contact authorities, and communicate what was happening with the church congregation.
 
Part of my hope with this letter is to bring to light sin so that the congregation I serve does not have to fear that I, or other leaders in the church, will ignore or minimize sexual abuse.
 
While I pray for you and your family’s well-being and healing, I hope the public consequences of your sin are severe. So severe that generations of pastors understand that sin is not worth it. God told David, “You acted in secret, but I will do this before all Israel and in broad daylight” (2 Samuel 12:12). While there is forgiveness to be found in Christ – there are consequences in this life. It is the entire point of 2 Samuel 12. Forgiveness with consequences.
 
Other than answering and repenting of your sin, please do not enter again into public ministry. You can serve the Church in many wonderful ways, behind the scenes.
 
On a final and personal note, you know that pastoral ministry is hard. It is becoming increasingly hard. You have made it harder for all of the SBC churches you were supposed to be serving. Your sin terrifies me. Not because it is so foreign and unthinkable, but because it is very near to me. While I have never committed physical adultery or fornication, I know that I very well could do so. I know that sexual sin frequently comes knocking on the door of my heart.
 
So, I too need to repent. I repent in the hopes that I will rely on the strength of God the Holy Spirit and not myself. I repent, trusting that the sacrifice of Christ is not only enough to forgive me of my sins, but to keep me from falling.
 
And I repent in the hopes that God will somehow use this fallout for His glory, for your good, and that many sons and daughters will enter into the Kingdom of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Nathan J. Norman
 
njn (at) nathanjamesnorman.com

Just before the 2017 Academy Awards, Oscar winner John Irving encouraged artists who received an award to use their speeches to talk about their political platform. While I find intermingling entertainment with overt political messages to be frustrating, it isn't morally problematic.

But then he made the following two statements:
1. "the creative community has an obligation: to be intolerant of intolerance."
2. "In our community, tolerance of intolerance is unacceptable."

I understand the sentiment. And if I'm being honest, it is how I want to operate. I want to love the lovely, accept those who accept me, and befriend those who think along the same lines as me.

John Irving doesn't expound on what intolerance of intolerance looks like. Is it merely speaking out against anyone's ideas who don't match with his own values? Maybe. Or is it more along the lines of "hating the hater"? I don't know.

I have no doubt, Mr. Irving's intentions are honorable: defend the defenseless. Don't let those with power bully the weak. Don't allow hatred to win the day!
And again, while Mr. Irving's values likely differ from mine on a number of issues, the sentiment is very appealing to me.

But then the Apostle Paul comes along:
Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. (Romans 12:21)

Paul, under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, tells me I can't do shady business to beat an even shadier businessman. I can't spread malicious gossip to hurt a person who hurt me by spreading malicious gossip. In the same way, I can't beat intolerance with intolerance.

Worse still, Jesus comes along:
You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:43-44 )

This is a higher form of love than romantic love. A higher form of love than friendship. A higher form of love than a family's love for each other. This is divine love! Unconditional! And sadly, utterly impossible for me or anyone else to actually achieve.

So, I ask for the help of Christ to do within me what I am not able to do myself. No one can love their enemies. No one can seek the good and betterment of people who who have hurt and abused us. It is divine love that accomplishes this. It is the sort of self-sacrificial love we saw in Christ.

I cannot settle for a lower form of love that only loves those who love me. I am trying to follow Jesus. And to follow Jesus, is to do what he did: sacrificially love our enemies.

Pray with me:
Father God,
Maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.
There are many people I do not like,
If I am being honest, I want their lives to be ruined.
I confess to you this is hatred.
Please forgive me.

Lord, Jesus Christ,
by whom all things were made:
Thank you for loving me when I was your enemy.
Teach me to walk in your ways.
Teach me to love in truth,
and seek the good for those who hate me.

God the Holy Spirit,
Lord and Giver of life,
change me heart.
May I not love merely with words or speech,
but with truth and action.
I ask all this in Jesus' Name.
Amen.

#higherlove

What effect will the 2016 presidential election have on the sovereignty of Christ?

None.

The election, like many before it, has prophets working hard to convince the public we are in the midst of an apocalypse: "Vote for my candidate, otherwise the earth shall crack open and hell-fire will bubble over onto you and your children and your children's children."

It is true that elections have consequences. And these consequences are rather high. So the apocalyptic language feels true.

If I am being honest, I also feel the pull. My heart teeters on the edge of being completely convinced of the message.

But this is a confusion of the City of Man for the City of God, as Augustine put it. The City of Man is coming to an end, but there is an enduring City - an eternal Kingdom - which is here now, and is coming in power. The eternal City of God cannot be stopped nor its purposes thwarted.

The ultimate power is not in the U.S. presidency. The ultimate authority and direction for the course of human history does not depend on the outcome of the 2016 election.

I have found myself in the Scriptures even more in this season, because my mind needs to be renewed. I need to be reminded by the prophets of the One True God, over and against the prophets of the false political gods, that Christ is sovereign over all.

Below I have compiled a brief list of Scriptures I have found challenging and comforting during this season:

Psalms 20:7-9
Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of Yahweh our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand firm. Lord , give victory to the king! May He answer us on the day that we call.

Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

Isaiah 31:1-3
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and who depend on horses!
They trust in the abundance of chariots and in the large number of horsemen.
They do not look to the Holy One of Israel and they do not seek the Lord ’s help.
But He also is wise and brings disaster.
He does not go back on what He says;
He will rise up against the house of wicked men and against the allies of evildoers.
Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit.
When the Lord raises His hand to strike, the helper will stumble and the one who is helped will fall; both will perish together.

Hebrews 13:14
For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come.

John 18:36
“My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here."

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (Read the Whole Book)
Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
 yet I will triumph in Yahweh;
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!
Yahweh my Lord is my strength;
He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!

Psalms 33:22
May Your faithful love rest on us, Yahweh, for we put our hope in You.

Revelation 22:20
He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

Which Scriptures have you found comfort in during this season?


Scripture References from the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

"Our math classes tell us 1+1+1=3, but 1x1x1=1. God is "the three times God." When you talk to Jesus, you are talking to God. When you talk with the Father, you are talking to God. And when you talk with the Holy Spirit, you are talking with God." - Rodrick K. Durst, Reordering the Trinity
 
Summary: Recognizing the deep importance of the doctrine of the Trinty Rodrick K. Durst identifies six orders of the Trinitarian persons in the Scriptures and demonstrates what the biblical authors are emphasizing in these orders.
 
Review: Reordering the Trinity focuses on historical, contemporary, and practical issues, but its main thrust is to identify the six orderings of the Trinitarian Persons, then interpret the significance behind these particular ordering.
 
The orderings are as follows:
1. Father – Son – Spirit
2. Son – Spirit – Father
3. Son – Father – Spirit
4. Spirit – Father – Son
5. Father – Spirit – Son
6. Spirit – Son – Father
 
I am indebted to Durst for pointing out these different orderings. While I have observed these differing orders in Scripture before, I never thought much of it. Durst argues throughout the book that these different orders actually communicate different things. The biblical authors very intentionally selected the order the Trinitarian Persons to communicate specific themes.
 
For example, the classic “Father – Son – Spirit” order is what he calls “The Sending Triad.” It has a missional purpose behind it.
The “Father – Spirit – Son” is what he calls “The Shaping Triad.” There is a spiritual formation process in this ordering.
 
The data Durst provides is comprehensive. He explores each Bible passage in extensive detail. I think in general he’s onto something. Some of the specific passages are a bit of a stretch when it comes to Durst’s thematic categories. Largely, though, I found myself in general amazement seeing how the biblical authors (under the guidance of God the Holy Spirit) used these orders to convey God’s work in humanity and his church.
 
I wish the practical side of this book was stronger. Durst is intentional at the end of the major chapters to offer “Sermon Starters”. He also has a closing practical section. These all contain helpful material to glean from, but I found the analysis sections more practical than the practical sections.
 
Reordering the Trinity was extremely helpful to me. In my personal and professional life, I have seen a number of Christian leaders and organizations deemphasize the Trinity, or dismiss the doctrine altogether. This trend caused me to update some of my submission requirements on my podcast, and required other organizations I work with to do so as well.
 
I have a deep affection for the Trinity. I have a deep desire to delve into the mysteries of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This desire is coupled with an understanding that many of those mysteries will still remain mysterious.
 
Durst has revealed something about the Trinity I have never seen before.
As I wrote before, I am indebted to him.
 
Rating: 4.5/5 (I Really Liked It)

Summary: Aaron Lunsford, drummer for the indie Christian rock band As Cities Burn, writes a memoir following the band's pursuit of success, bitter failures, and difficult relationships.

Review: I have enjoyed As Cities Burn for a number of years now. In particular, Come Now Sleep and Hell or High Water. The brutal honesty of this group's lyrics resound with me. They are transparent with their spiritual struggles with Christ, as well as their struggles with the Church. Their instruments are the perfect vehicle to communicate this struggle.

And then, in the midst of the difficult relationships, the lyrics and music explode the grace of God on the listener. We see a glimmer of the light of things hoped for.

For me, As Cities Burn gives a pretty honest and typical portrayal of the Christian walk:
Struggle. Struggle. Struggle. Beauty. Struggle. Beauty. Beauty. Beauty. Rest. Struggle.

So I snatched up this memoir as soon as it came out.

The book spends most of the time exploring the difficulties of touring, starting a band, and the interpersonal conflicts that arise as a result of it. Lunsford gives a chaotic glimpse into the lives of a bunch of (mostly) Christian guys trying to find an audience for their music. There is very little reference to their faith, or walk, but when Lunsford does go there he has a fair amount of criticism for Christians and himself.

One poignant passage explains these young guys' dilemma:

As Cities Burn's work has moved me incredibly at times. And I think it's because these guys are doing the very difficult task of living out their imperfect faith within a church-culture that has largely encouraged believers to pretend to be perfect in their walk with Christ. I certainly don't agree with Lunsford in all areas of orthopraxy (right actions), but I do appreciate his honesty.

Backstage is rather vulgar (not terribly profane, though). This doesn't bother my literary sensibilities too much, but it certainly isn't for everyone. And there were points where the vulgarity muddied the flow of text and detracted from his narration. (Oh! And he offers one band-hijinks image I would have been happy to have gone to my grave without ever visualizing).

Fans of the band will enjoy this fun and quick memoir. More than just a band book, though, voices like this are important in the Western Church these days. So much of our focus is on our actions as believers rather than the object of our belief, Jesus Christ. American Christians need to become much more honest disciples, who constantly point to their need for Jesus Christ.

Lunsford does a great job in the honesty department. The need for Jesus is only dimly implied.

Rating: 4/5 (I Really Liked It)

Find it here on Amazon.

Watch one of my favorite moments from As Cities Burn:

No Joke! A Fun and challenging memoir.

A few weeks back E. Stephen Burnett asked me to write a guest post over at the Speculative Faith blog.  I agreed and had no idea what to write about.

For a few years I've kicked around a theory about horror writer     H. P. Lovecraft and the simultaneously glorious and horrible Day of the Lord. My Lovecraft-reading Christian friends have summarily rejected this every time I've presented it, but I went ahead I put out my theory anyway.

I assume it will be further rejected and ridiculed. But now it will be done so on a larger scale!

Check out the article and explore this great blog and website!