Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

I was a pretty good debater in high school and college. Lets don’t kid I probably still am. But one thing I learned in my life is that I can’t debate someone into heaven.

There is one thing that everyone had better be right about and that is to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. But I’m amazed that people (whom I used to be one of them) will argue over issues that have nothing to do with bringing a person to a relationship with Jesus. People argue over Spiritual Gifts, Predestination, the Rapture and Second Coming of Christ, alcohol, gender, etc…. Not to say that these aren’t things we should have a distinct opinion and base our doctrine on. But much of the “minor” doctrines that Christians fight over don’t bring people to Christ. I see the world in “Black & White” but unfortunately I learned that the world is pretty “Grey.” That has been hard for me.

Today I heard a few pastors arguing on a Sports Talk show in Birmingham over gambling. One pastor called the another pastor a sissy pastor. Now, will that kind of talk from one Christian to another on a secular radio program encourage a non-believer to explore Christianity? I would doubt it. There are some things in the Bible that we can be certain that we must do or not do. How do we know? The Bible clearly states them. It is certain that the only way to a relationship with God is through the death of Jesus and our believing in Him. But we don’t have to argue about every little thing do we?

Is being right more important than loving our fellow Christians? Is being right more important than loving non-believers and reaching them for Christ? I realize there is an absolute truth and that is Jesus. But is being right about “grey” areas in the Bible going to encourage a non-believer to come to church? Is having a silly church sign that only speaks to those in the “club” going to make someone visit church on Sunday? I don’t think so.

I’ve never met anyone who has been argued into a relationship with Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to bring people to Christ. Our job is to love people and live out the Bible. I slip up every now and then and my legalistic tendencies come out. But my friends are quick to point out my hypocrisy and I have to repent. When we add laws and rules to non-believers they see that as hypocrisy. Funny thing is so did Jesus. The only people that Jesus ever got angry with were the religious leaders of His day. To those who were caught in sin, He told them to leave their life of sin and move on.

I want to be right but in I Corinthians 13 it says that the greatest thing is love.

[AP]

Gov. Sarah Palin’s church is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.

“You’ll be encouraged by the power of God’s love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality,” according to the insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church, where Palin has prayed for about six years.

Palin’s conservative Christian views have energized that part of the GOP electorate, which was lukewarm to John McCain’s candidacy before he named her as his vice presidential choice. She is staunchly anti-abortion, opposing exceptions for rape and incest, and opposes gay marriage and spousal rights for gay couples.

Focus on the Family, a national Christian fundamentalist organization, is conducting the “Love Won Out” Conference in Anchorage, about 30 miles from Wasilla.

Read more here.

[From me]

So what! I agree with her church.  God can change anyone through the power of prayer. I make no apologies for telling people about Jesus and what He can do for their life.  It is who I am.  I think it is who Palin is too. The media just doesn’t like Palin.  They are looking for anything to trash her.  If Sen. Obama’s former pastor’s views didn’t matter then neither should Palin’s church.  Give me a break!

What do you think?

Probably one of my biggest pet peeves is the “CHURCH POLICE.”  What are the Church Police?  They are Church people who feel it is their God given call in life to criticize every ministry that is different than theirs. They appear differently depending on if they are attacking their own pastor or if they are attacking some other pastor.

When we started our church in Atlanta, my friend Jason Burns made an interesting observation.  He said the only people who will call you in regards to our mailings will be those who disapprove of our new church. Boy was he right!  I received dozens of calls from people wanting to know what we believed.  I finally got smart and put our statement of beliefs on our website.  I never received criticism from people outside the church.  I have always received the worst tongue lashing from those inside the church.  What happened to grace?

One man, who is probably still lurking today even though I’m not his pastor anymore actually printed out all that had said over a year on my blogs and others!  Who has that much time?  He didn’t like the fact that I read Mark Driscol or Rick Warren.  He even got a group together to try to remove me as pastor.

Probably the biggest lightning rod in the Christian church today is Rick Warren.  There is no grey area with Rick.  People either like him or hate him.  Those who hate him are in the church!  I personally like him a lot. I don’t agree with everything he says but the man has had a huge impact on my life.  He actually sent me a hand written note a few year ago and I still have it today.

There are websites, books and even messages that sole purpose is to take down Rick Warren.  I don’t get it! They claim that Rick doesn’t preach the Gospel.  There was one man comparing him to Jim Jones!  Please! The rub for me is these people are spending so much time attacking other ministries that they probably are neglecting their own ministries to the unchurched right around them! 

There are many ministries that I disagree with. One being the Health/Wealth ministers.  But I have never said they weren’t believers or devoted websites to remove them.  I just chose not to attend there.  

I wonder what it looks like to those outside the church when they see Christians attacking their own?  I’ve often found more grace from those who aren’t believers.  It is time to retire the “CHURCH POLICE” and be on mission for Christ.

What do you think?