The Ragamuffin Blog

Francis Chan Apologies for Rob Bell Comment

This past week I had the privelege of attending the Exponential church planting conference with my wife, Megan, down in Orlando. During the first main session, Francis Chan apparently made some comments about Rob Bell that were pointed and of a personal nature. (Unfortunately, I wasn't there to hear it since I had unknowingly led my wife to slaughter that morning as we sat through high pressure sales pitch for a time share. After saying "no" no fewer than 12 times to 4 reps over the course of 3+ hours, we both agreed it was not nearly worth the $100 off universal studios tickets. You live, your learn.)

But by the time Megan and I made it to the conference site, the place was already buzzing about Francis' talk. He had struck a chord. By mid afternoon, Francis Chan was a trending topic on Twitter. But those who only sat through the main session or followed the twitter frenzy missed the best part: it wasn't Francis' comment, it was his response to making it. Immediately afterwards, I attended a breakout session with Francis that was supposed to be about prayer and leadership. Instead, a visibly distrought Francis Chan sat down and told us that he didn't have it in him to get up and give another message. What followed was a humble and painful apology for his "flippant comment" he had made about Rob Bell. He went on to explain that although he passoinately disagreed with Rob on some things, and although Rob knows that and the two have been corresponding and will be getting together soon, it was not fair of him to make a comment like that.

Finally.

I have been a fan of Francis Chan's for a while. I continue to learn from him as a man, as a Christian, and as a pastor. I can certainly say the same thing about Rob Bell. And so I can't tell you how encouraged I was to finally see a Christian, and an influential Christian leader no less, apolgoize for letting his emotions get the best of him and making unfair, personal attacking comments about Rob. Listen, it is okay to judge a man's conclusions. In fact, it is wise to do so. But it is not okay to judge a man's motives for reaching those conclusions. That is God's job. Francis Chan modeled humility and repentance by owning his mistake and asking for forgiveness.

He went first. Is it your turn?

A Pastor's Response to Healthcare Reform

Like many Americans, I anxiously watched last night as Congress officially passed a bill that will overhaul the American health care system and cost an estimated $1 trillion dollars over the next ten years. As someone who is neither Republican nor Democrat, I found myself wrestling with a number of mixed feelings about this monumental event and naturally wondered what it might mean for my wife and I and our two girls in the future. I even wondered what it would mean for their kids someday.

I was unprepared, however, for the cyber onslaught that has since been unleashed by so many well intentioned, but justifiably angry republican Christians. I understand why many are upset. I share many of their concerns. But what struck me most was not their feelings of frustration or their disagreement with this huge decision that will directly affect most of our lives, but their use of spiritual and even Christian language to support and defend their political position.

That bothers me.

Perhaps we’d do well to keep in mind that God used Joseph to institute a highly controlled, big government program in Egypt to save the lives of thousands upon thousands. I’m not suggesting a direct parallel or that Obama is God’s instrument in a similar way today. But I am suggesting that we get honest about the fact that our cherished red-white-and-blue democracy is not a biblical mandate for governing a nation (or a church, for that matter). Be careful not to blur the lines between religion and politics, it is a lethal combination.

I think we would do well to hold in tension two realities: 1, it is not outside the realm of possibility that in the future God could choose to use something as bureaucratic and self-serving as big government to bring about good, just as he did in Joseph’s time. I am NOT suggesting that this is what is happening right now. But I can promise you that God is far more concerned with the health and survival of the poor and suffering than the taxation of America’s middle class (which by the way, represents one of the wealthiest segments of people on earth). Even if God has had nothing to do with the happenings in DC, that will always remain true. And although I personally probably wouldn’t have voted for this bill and am more than a little anxious about what all this might mean in the future, I rejoice over what this could mean for those who could not otherwise afford healthcare, particularly the urban poor and terminally ill.

2, more importantly, we need to turn to the wisdom of the scriptures that urges us over and over to not put our trust in those who hold power. Consider the words of Psalm 118:8-9: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” If you find yourself either suddenly inspired with great hope for the future or outraged that this could happen in our nation, you may be placing too much hope in the wrong thing. Jesus is the one and only true hope for humanity, the only one that will never fail us.  

I’ll admit that this whole thing scares me too. I worry about what it might mean over the next twenty years for our country and for my family. I worry about what it might mean for my kids and theirs. But God is bigger than governments and he has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. No matter what the future holds, He will always take care of us. And you know, perhaps it isn't such a bad thing for us to be reminded every now and then that we really aren't as in control of our lives as we'd like to think we are.  

My last word is for the leaders out there.

Last night I hopped online to find a frenzy of angry tweets and facebook statuses from pastors and spiritual leaders all over the country. Friends, please remember that your influence is no small thing. As leaders, your words are like a virus. For better or worse, they affect everyone around you. In times of anxiety and crisis, that influence multiplies as others look to you for clarity and direction. My question to you is this: what are you spreading? Are you acting as a voice of love and hope in this time of monumental change in which many are anxious and afraid? Or in your venting are you unintentionally spreading anger and cynicism to those around you, adding to their fear and unsettledness?

I urge you, my friends, to choose hope. Not hope in government or politicians or your own fiscal outlook for 2011 and beyond, but hope in Jesus. Look for your peace there. And help those around you to do the same. 

Letters to my Future Self

Dear Aaron,

At the time this letter was written to you, a lot was going on in your life. You were in your first year of seminary, weeks away from finally finishing up that pesky undergrad work, wrapping up your first year interning with Mosaic in L.A., trying for child number two, excited for your brother Jake’s little one due in a few months, and just coming off an incredible experience in CO with your newfound brothers of RhythmInTwenty.

Undoubtedly much has happened since. It is likely that you are now a father of at least two, perhaps more. You have probably been back in Lincoln, NE for some time now, started a new work there, moved back into your little house on Everett Street and enjoyed a few thunderstorms on your back deck. Who knows, maybe you even finally got that rusty orange Jeep Wrangler you’ve wanted for so long.

Aaron, I need you to hear me. A time will come, perhaps it already has, when you are going to get to a point where you begin to look for greener grass again. It is in your nature. Perhaps the slow pace of Lincoln life has you once more itching for the opportunities and excitement of a big city. Perhaps the grind of ministry has you longing to escape to the mountains of Colorado so you can finally work on the river. Or perhaps you are slowly realizing that your life will never quite be able to keep up with your dreams. Whatever the case, you need to stop whatever you are doing right now, shut off the music, power down your smart phone, put the laptop away and remember for a few moments.

You need to remember that God has called you in no uncertain terms to pursue the young adults of Lincoln, NE with the reckless grace of Jesus Christ. You need to remember the calling given you in the green hills of Scotland to speak; no matter how inept or insecure you might feel. You need to remember that which led you to plant Kineo – a work intercepted, but a calling that never changed. You need to remember that night in February of 2009 when you came to understand what that ancient passage in Joel was referring to. You need to remember the visions you saw of the "contagious" movement that would saturate the dark spaces and holes of Lincoln, NE. You need to remember what it was like to fight tears through nearly every session at Catalyst West Coast as God affirmed your call to Lincoln over and over again and as He urged you to finally own that calling and begin praying for the city.

Aaron, you must REMEMBER! You have been called, not requested. Your ambitions are not your own. Your dreams are not your own. Your vision is not your own. Your LIFE is not your own. Your days were ordained for you before one of them came to be. Do not question your call. Do not question your commitment. Own it. Embrace it. Live it.  

Leading Alone?

The resurgence of Ted Haggard (and his epic failings) into the public spotlight has got me thinking a lot about leadership. Namely, I have been thinking about why highly successful and influential men like Haggard continue to fall morally only to lose everything – their job, their influence, their families and any hope of vocational ministry in the future. I wonder, why does this keep happening and how can it be avoided?

Can I admit something on the front end? My heart breaks for Ted. I know he messed up and that he messed up big time. I know that he caused a horrendous amount of emotional, psychological and spiritual damage to thousands of people, including friends of mine. And I know he is reaping what he has sown. But as someone who tends to err on the side of grace, my heart breaks for Ted. Consider this:

How alone do you think someone has to be when they can carry a secret like this - one that draws into question everything they stand for - and no one – not friends, not colleagues, not even family – has even the slightest idea?

I think most of us recognize the inherent danger in putting one man on such a large pedestal, but I don’t think the pedestal is the problem. History has taught us that people always push for influential men and women to be put into positions of power. This is one of the reasons Jesus had to work so hard to stay underground for as long as he could. When the word got out about him, what did the people want to do? Crown him king. When the powers-that-be found out, they recognized a legitimate threat and had him crucified. It’s a wonder that his public ministry lasted a full three years.

You see, we will always look to those who capture our hearts and imaginations for inspiration, direction and leadership. This kind of influence is a gift. And like any ability, it can be used for good or it can be used for evil. I think Ted set out with the genuine desire to use his influence for good. But somewhere along the way he got lost. Terribly lost. Over time, he stopped quieting himself long enough to hear the gentle whisper of the Spirit and started listening to the voices blaring in his ears. In the end, his influence was used to inflict horrendous damage on those who trusted him.  

I don’t think the problem was that Ted had great influence. I don’t think the problem was that people had put him on a pedestal. I think the problem was that Ted stood on that pedestal completely alone.

I wonder if Jesus ever meant for his followers to venture into positions of influence (or to venture anywhere, for that matter) alone. I wonder how many times he had to warn his ragtag group of followers about the alluring nature of power over a pint at the local watering hole. I’d venture to guess it was a popular topic of conversation. After all, the very reason Jesus had come was to fix what the human desire to play God had broken. This is why we hear Jesus continually teaching about things like humility, generosity, serving and forgiveness. This is why we find Jesus apparently unsurprised by an argument over which of his disciples was the greatest; to which he responded by teaching them to become everyone else’s servant. And I think this is also why Jesus chose not to send his disciples out to do ministry alone.

We find a great example of this in Luke 10:1. It reads:

“After this Jesus appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.”

I wonder what would happen if today’s leaders approached ministry in the same way. I wonder how many churches would benefit from having two pastors of the same authority, of equal power, and of mutual accountability leading the way. I wonder how much more effective our church planting would be if we stopped sending our planters out alone. I wonder how much more healthy our churches would be if we resisted the tendency to build around a single personality by diluting the spotlight. I wonder how many of our pastors would benefit from giving lead pastorship back to Jesus and sharing the rest of the responsibilities and burdens with a plurality of equal leaders.

I wonder if Jesus wasn’t on to something.

Haggard: When A Leader Falls

In case you haven’t heard, this Thursday HBO will air a special documentary entitled “The Trials of Ted Haggard.” The documentary was shot by Alexandra Pelosi, daughter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and includes home footage shot during some of Ted’s lowest moments since the scandal originally broke out in 2006.

For millions of Americans, the documentary will undoubtedly evoke a wide range of emotions reminiscent of the ones they felt when the story first unfolded just a couples years ago – feelings of anger, disbelief, betrayal, sadness and devastation, among many others. For me, and probably for many Christian leaders across the globe, the documentary will force us to revisit the horrendous moment we found out that yet another high profile Christian leader had fallen. Painfully, we asked, How could this happen? How does the pastor of a 12,000 member church, the leader of the 30 million member National Association of Evangelicals, a representative to the White House, one who holds so much influence and voice in so many lives do something like this? More than two years later, we are still trying to come up with an answer.

Pelosi has said that she hopes the documentary will turn out to be a story of forgiveness. I do too. I hope that the church, New Life and the Capital “C”, responds by embracing Ted by showing him love and grace, by apologizing for the things that were handled poorly, and by welcoming him back into fellowship. But I fear that the documentary itself will reveal just the opposite. I fear that it will reveal an all too familiar story in which a once beloved and admired man makes some poor choices, embarrassing himself and the church, and is then abandoned by those who so often talk about “forgiveness,” left to try to pick up the pieces himself.

Why is the church so quick to shoot their wounded?

I will readily admit that I am thankful I was not one of the elders at New Life when this all came out. I am thankful I did not have to decide how to try to handle such a difficult, painful, embarrassing and complex situation under the scrutinous spotlight of the American media. I am thankful that I did not have to try to faithfully handle and lead through the emotional and spiritual fallout that continued in Colorado Springs long after the journalists and news crews had moved on to the next big story.  

But I think most would agree - if not now, certainly after the documentary airs - that the church (New Life and the Capital “C”) essentially abandoned Haggard in his darkest hour. Sure, they gave him a generous severance package, but throwing money at a problem never solved anything. Even in the business world that is considered only professional, not especially gracious. And when you consider that New Life demanded Haggard not speak publically about the issue and that he move out of state, it just doesn’t look good. Even those far from the church perceive this to be inconsistent with the person and message of Jesus.    

And to make matters worse, I have recently found out that a former staff member of New Life – a childhood friend of mine – is responding to the documentary by bringing further allegations against Haggard and the church in a coming interview with ABC. This time, however, the allegations include things that reportedly happened that were not consensual. In other words, this thing will get worse before it gets better.

But here is the deal: we understand that moral failure always has devastating repercussions. And when it is a leader, the fallout is exponentially worse because it affects the lives of so many others. This is true regardless of the circumstances. But I have to believe that this could have been a different story - one of tremendous grace and forgiveness.

Can you imagine what might have happened if New Life would have responded by coming around the Haggard family and embracing them? Can you imagine what might have happened if instead of requiring that they move out of state, New Life had urged them to stay in Colorado Springs as a part of the church where they could be loved, served and provided for? What if the New Life staff had resolved to encourage those in their church to extend grace to the Haggard family and to personally come around them when they needed support the most? What if, instead of releasing official statements to the press, Pastor Brady and the rest of the New Life leadership were able to respond to these new allegations alongside Ted and his wife, as friends, admitting mistakes wherever needed but doing so in the context of friendship and a mutual commitment to get through it together? And then what if, instead of demanding that Ted not speak publically about the issue, He was encouraged to share about his restorative journey after a period of time, if he desired to and when he was ready as an example of how a community of Christ followers can come alongside those who fall with grace and love in order to see them restored?

Imagine the kind of message that would have communicated. Imagine the kind of impact that might have had. Imagine what could have been if only we had responded differently. I do hope that this story turns out to be one of forgiveness. And I hope and pray that we, the church, get better at loving those who need it most in the times to come.

Flakey Bloggers Unite

**Has it really been 9 weeks since my last post?! Something tells me that isn't too good for one's readership (my statcounter, for one). My apologies. These last couple months of silence have been busy and have involved a lot of inner turmoil. I have been wrestling with expectations, confronting some of my own shortcomings, questioning whether or not I desire to be in vocational ministry again someday, (and just in case the answer to that question turns out to be "no") playing with some other possibilities, trying to figure out how to be a better husband, and engaging the age old practice of having fun. But all that to say that I think I have finally come out the other end - in a much better place than where I started - and ready to get back in the blogging saddle again.**

And just what would a triumphant re-entry into bloggerdome be without some snapshots of my last couple months? If you answered "lame", you'd be exactly right. So here goes...

In mid November we headed back to Lincoln for my brother Jake's wedding. The first order of business was the bachelor party. We rented a limo, dressed up in our finest pirate garb and headed out on the town for a night of pillaging and rock'n roll. For anyone looking for bachelor party ideas, I highly recommend this one. From the impromptu sidewalk sword fights, to the epic limo gun battles, to the autographs and stares at Yia Yia's downtown, this was one for the ages. (I am not liable for expletive gestures.)

The next night was the night of the rehearsal dinner. We didn't really have any ideas for an after party. Then we found out that the State Theater was at our disposal, if we wanted it. After a quick brainstorming session, we ran out and got a dozen assorted nerf guns and headed to the theater for an epic nerf battle. No would could have guessed this night would turn out to be even better than the previous one. Perhaps it was the drunk pub patrons pasionately cheering us on through the windows, the incredible layout of twisted hallways and bases, or the opportunity for all of us to be 12 again, but whatever the case, most of us agree it was one of the funnest nights of our lives.

The following day was the big one. It was a beautiful wedding filled with both moving and hilarious moments (the hilarious ones I can't really share on here, so you'll have to use your imagination). 

After the ceremony, the wedding party hopped on a party bus to celebrate before rejoining everyone at the Lodge at Wilderness Ridge for the dance party to end all dance parties. We figuratively and literally tore the dance floor up!

 

It was a fitting way to celebrate Jake & Allie's new marriage and it wrapped up what was easily one of the funnest three days stretches of my life.

I spent most of the last week of November at beautiful Point Loma in San Diego for Strengths Coach training with Gallup. All I gotta say is that it is a good thing I didn't visit this school while I was in high school because it just might have inspired me to become a Nazarene. It also turned out that my good buddy Derick was in town celebrating his birthday, so I got to crash with him in a suite at the Hard Rock Hotel (easily the coolest hotel I've ever stayed at) and hang with some of his fellow firefighters (great guys) in SD's gas lamp district (which absolutely shames downtown L.A.) The training? Oh yea, that was good too. Really.

Last month I had the wonderful opportunity of spending some time with Dan Kimball while he was in town. He and his lead pastor, Josh (great guy!), met with us to talk about the protege program. (For anyone interested, they will be launching their own protege program at Vintage Faith in Santa Cruz this fall!) Dan has been an instrumental and influential voice of clarity in the emerging church movement for some time now. His Emerging Worship was one of my favorite resources for ideas and discussion when I served as a worship pastor. I have to say that I was so impressed and encouraged by Dan's kind and humble spirit, his hunger for understanding, and his interest in little people (like myself). Although he is a bonafide rock star in many circles, he still comes off as someone who is genuinely accessible and endlessly loyal. Spending time with him was truly an honor.

 

Since Megan is relatively new to her job and we just took time off for the wedding in November, we spent Christmas here in L.A. with my sister-in-law's family. It was a really good time and very relaxing. (Notice picture of me toting the video camera like a good dad.) Also, just in case you were wondering, Amy Grant was right: Christmas in L.A. does make for a warm holiday.

We had roughly a dozen people staying in our apartment for New Year's. It was filled with much dancing, rocking out, cranium (guy's won), and shouting at the church group camping underneath our balcony. The next morning we got up, watched the Rose Bowl Parade from our balcony (very cool), and then cheered on our Husker's as they beat out Clemson in the Gator Bowl! It was a great way to ring in the new year!!

Alright, I think I am finally caught up! Now, lets move on to some substance...