The Elephant in the Room

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

Another preacher once asked me which version of the Bible I support. I told him I usually preach and teach from the KJV, but I read most of them. I then added, “I encourage people to pick a version and obey all of it”. My point was that we have far outdistanced our obedience with our Bibliology, inerrancy, and original language credentials. There are many, many more arguments over the six day creation doctrine than there are about how to manifest the love of God in our lives.

The arguments over inerrancy far outdistance any substantive discussions over how to minister to the poor around the world. And on and on it goes. We have become obsessed with all kinds of doctrinal points, some very important, while we neglect the weightier issues altogether. The heart of the law is mercy, and yet where are the conferences about mercy? You have a segment of evangelicals which loudly suggest that parts of the Mosaic Law are still in effect, and yet their argument never centers around mercy. Many desire the Ten Commandments hung on school walls, but where are the hordes demanding "God is love" be hung?

With all the doctrines about the Bible and the teachings of Scripture, here is the elephant in the room: How closely and passionately do we live those teachings? Orthodoxy has been whittled down to proof texts and systematized theologies, but as it pertains to living proofs, well, they remain as unspoken and not directly tethered to what we believe. That is not only a problem, that tears at the very fabric of what defines a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. What we believe has muscled out how we live what we believe.

The Scriptures have become a resource for doctrine instead of a living and breathing spiritual mandate that now only directs but empowers. We arrive at all sorts of truths by comparing texts with other texts and lining them up in a neat little organized doctrine, but where are the doctrines that emanate from a living disciple and provide empirical evidence within and without the community of faith? Why must we rely solely upon a set of written treatises? Why don’t we carry God’s truth inside living epistles that provide remarkable manifestations of those truths? Succinctly and profoundly, why don’t we live and speak like Jesus?

This is no small question. If this has become a minor issue than what in God’s name have we constructed? And if that is not the core of our theology, then what theology are we practicing? And there it is. We outline our theology with linguistic efficiency and with those written statements we prove our Biblical orthodoxy. But as it pertains to how we live the life outlined clearly in the New Testament, that is up for debate. If someone is a member of an evangelical church and is faithful to attend and give and vote, that person is stamped a “disciple”. But where does the New Testament teach that as the template?

You see, the life of Jesus is used to exhort, albeit through a diluted cultural prism, while the writings of Paul are used as the foundation for our faith. My theology is definitively Pauline, however there is much more to being a Christian than just nodding approval to a certain set of doctrines. And it has become more and more unsettling to hear evangelical believers show such little concern for the poor, the weak, the wandering, the least, and the lost. Just giving pro-life lip service does not mean you are concerned with the poor and defenseless.

Can a Christian be separated from what he does and exist overwhelmingly on what he believes? Is that the teaching of Jesus or the New Testament? No one can honestly suggest that yet that is exactly what we teach and allow. The world knows nothing of Christian doctrine except what it sees and experiences through the lives of professing believers. When Jesus said we are to be salt and light did He mean in our statements of faith? Was He referring to the revelation of our lives? And if it is the latter, then we must enter into a long overdue discussion of how a believer should speak, feel, and live. There now are two communities of faith. One that sits in the pew, and one that is unremarkable within the culture. And those two communities are comprised of the same people.

The culture has invaded our thinking over and over again until we began to dilute the Scriptures in order not to make them appear fanatical. So in the last several decades as American post war prosperity began to explode and entertainment became the driving force of the culture, the church had to make a choice. That choice had to be made either with knowledge, or it became a choice by default. The entire church structure began to change. The pastor became more like a CEO and he was paid accordingly. His pastoral resources expanded and he had many sermon tools at his disposal. Slowly but surely his position took on roles that never were part of a Biblical shepherd.

He was now a fund raiser and building inspector. While his teaching ministry shriveled in depth, his counseling expanded. And his preaching became less and less Christocentric and now was a rehashing of his counseling. And as his flock became consumed with aspects of the culture and the success it promised the pastor evolved into a “how to” guide who took Biblical principles and wove them into directions for western success. The entire ministry became about the individual and not about Christ.

And just as alluring and imprisoning was the lure of numbers. Many churches were in debt, and the pastor sometimes did not live within his means. The challenge was to “build a church” and not feed the sheep. And when you seek to build a great church with large numbers then compromise becomes a well used tool regardless of how clandestine it seems. Your messages are tailored to meet what the people want. And since you are attempting to bring in more and more members you certainly avoid chasing any away.

And as this process was in full force something material to the cause of Christ became a causality. The definition and revelation of what a disciple is and should be was completely revolutionized. In fact, most times it was ignored. Self denial and sacrifice were considered obstacles rather than sweet smelling offerings to the Lord Jesus. Trials and tribulations were always of the devil and never tools of God to refine our faith into fine spiritual gold. Western boldness replaced spiritual humility. Sinners were considered enemies of our culture rather than objects of our tears and compassion.

And many times we were clever enough to retain the orthodox structure of our theology. Yes, in an incredible act of doctrinal slight of hand the church was able to outwardly embrace Biblical truths that were literal indictments of our lifestyles. Can you imagine such an accomplishment? Biblical teachings upon teachings were open rebukes to the accumulated discipleship violations that ran rampant throughout the western church members. But the church behaved as if they saw nothing wrong and continued on a path to more and more compromises and cultural friendships. Oh God, how could this happen??

Abortion and homosexuality were invited to become the western hobby horses in order to both conceal our own sins and also to soothe our consciences. The evil one had deceived the church and the western church delighted in that deception. She still does. And it isn’t just the liberal and emerging variety that are being led into deeper and deeper deception. It is also thousands upon thousands of “orthodox” churches as well. The entire construct is completely at odds with everything Jesus lived and taught and yet we still not only remain blind, but we even refuse to investigate.

It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled -- Mark Twain. E

Why is that so? It is because for someone to admit they have been fooled they have to swallow their pride. To say “I was wrong” is a bitter pill to swallow but it also can be the spiritual gate to freedom. What am I saying? I am saying that there is a bull elephant in the room. Not some minor adjustments. Not some more excitement. And even not just rejecting politics and nationalism, although they are major strongholds. I am saying that we must take a vulnerable and humble look into what the Scriptures say and passionately juxtapose them upon what we now believe and practice. In old fashioned terms we need a sweeping revival that places everything under the scrutiny of God’s Spirit, most especially us.

But if that prospect does not challenge you or even frighten you somewhat, then you do not realize the scope and depth of the spiritual surgery needed. And here is what I believe can be a first step. As I have said before, read Matthew chapters five through seven several times. Fast for a day if you can and read it through many times. Listen to the Spirit’s teaching. Receive them literally regardless of how incredible their application might seem. Pray much. Take your time. Pray much. And if the Holy Spirit allows you to see things that have been hidden before, remember them and embrace them. Pray much.