Christ and Common Sense

Thoughts from a Central Valley Pastor

Month: June 2023

Saddleback Church and the SBC

June 30, 2023 /

On Wednesday, June 14, 2023 the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) announced Saddleback church of Orange County, CA had been voted out of the denomination. The vote was recorded as 9,437 votes (88.46%) supporting the removal and 1,212 votes (11.36%) rejecting the removal. This ended an ordeal that officially started at the 2021 SBC annual meeting in Nashville, TN. At that time a member of the SBC named Shadd Tibbs stated to the convention, “[I move that] we the Southern Baptist Convention, of June 2021, break fellowship with Saddleback Church, as they have ordained three ladies as pastors…at the very least, I am asking that the validity of this matter be looked into and report given at the 2022 Convention…” https://www.philipmeade.com/southern-baptist-convention/sbc-2022-annual-meeting-summary/ A committee was formed to consider whether Saddleback church was “in friendly cooperation with the Convention” or not.  

The following year the SBC met for an annual meeting in Anaheim, CA on June 14-15th. A special committee was formed to determine whether Saddleback church was using the title of “pastor” appropriately or not. This was an interesting question because from a Biblical perspective the role and office of pastor is the same as that of an elder and overseer of the church (Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:1-7, 5:17-19; Titus 1:5-7) . The leadership of Saddleback had  separated the ministry of shepherding or pastoring people from the office of pastor/elder/overseer. The argument was made by the leadership of the church that women could be given the title of “pastor” because they were serving in pastoral roles without infringing on the Biblical guidelines for men to fulfill the office of a pastor. 

At the time the SBC document “The Baptist Faith & Message” stated: “While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.” In 2022, Pastor Rick Warren spoke from the floor at the SBC annual meeting in Anaheim. He called for unity within the SBC and asked the convention “are we going to treat each other as allies or adversaries?” He stated that he did not expect to return the following year. It seemed likely that Saddleback church would be disfellowshipped from the convention. 

In September of 2022, pastor Rick Warren retired from his role at Saddleback church. He was replaced by his successor, pastor Andy Wood who became the executive pastor of the church. Pastor Andy’s wife Stacie, became the main teaching pastor at Saddleback church. 

On February 21, 2023 the SBC Executive Committee ruled that three churches would be removed from the denomination. The churches appealed and on June 14th, the entire Southern Baptist Convention, was given the opportunity to rule in support or in rejection of having Saddleback church and the two other churches removed from the church. 

The 2023 SBC convention took place in New Orleans, LA from June 13-14.  Over twelve thousand SBC members, who are known as messengers, attended the convention. They were allowed to hear an appeal from pastor Rick Warren from the floor of the convention. With the three minutes he was given, he asked the convention “why should this one issue cancel our fellowship?” In response, Dr. Al Mohler spoke on behalf of the Executive Committee. He put the issue in historical perspective and reminded everyone that the words “the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture” was inserted into the SBC documents because “thirty years ago this issue threatened to tear this denomination apart.” Dr. Mohler said, “This is not just an issue of church polity. This is not just a matter of hermeneutics. It is a matter of Biblical commitment, a commitment to the Scripture that unequivocally, we believe, limits the office of pastor to men.” After hearing the appeal and the response the convention voted to remove Saddleback church from the denomination. 

The Executive Committee also agreed to change the wording of the Baptist Faith & Message document to state that every church in the SBC “affirms, appoints, or employs only men as any kind of pastor or elder as qualified by Scripture.” This addition will need to be approved for two years in a row and then it will be officially added to the SBC documents. 

I am not a part of the SBC, but I still find it helpful to follow this story because it brings clarity to an issue that churches around the world struggle with. Can women be given the title of pastor without serving in the office of elder/pastor/overseer? Can the title of pastor be separated from that of an elder? 1 Timothy 3:2 makes it clear that only men should be elders. It states, “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife.” There should be no disagreement over the gender of an elder and a careful reading of the original intent of Scripture reveals that there should be no disagreement over the gender of a pastor as well. 

The Essential Church

June 16, 2023 /

“Is the church essential?” That is the question that will be answered in a new documentary that will be released in theaters later this summer. The movie is called “The Essential Church” and is being produced by Grace Productions, which is a ministry of Grace Community Church. The documentary’s website invites the viewer to “Journey with us as we rediscover why the Church is essential and how we prove that our stand remains true from a scientific, legal, and most importantly Biblical perspective.” https://essentialchurchmovie.com

As I watched the trailer for the movie I was reminded of all the turmoil and difficulty that my immediate family and our church family went through during Covid. I still remember the date when the executive orders were given to shelter in place. 

It was March 19, 2020. We had been told all Californians had to stay in their homes for at least two weeks in order to flatten the curve of the coronavirus. Executive Order N-33-20 identified sixteen critical infrastructure sectors “whose assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, are considered so vital to the United States that their incapacitation, or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, economic security, public health or safety, or any combination thereof.” Our governor went on to write, “I order that Californians working in these 16 critical infrastructure sectors may continue their work because of the importance of these sectors to Californians’ health and well-being.” 

I remember looking over the document that identified which industries were essential and which were not (https://www.cisa.gov/topics/risk-management/coronavirus/identifying-critical-infrastructure-during-covid-19) The sixteen industry sectors had been given by the federal government. They included the Critical Manufacturing Sector, Food and Agriculture Sector, and the Healthcare and Public Health Sector. I took the time to look into the Public Health Sector and I realized pastoral work could fit under the Public Health Sector because the spiritual health of an individual was essential for maintaining “Californian’s health and well-being.” 

I remember being at the post office during those early weeks and one of the people in line asked if my work was essential. With a clear conscience, I told the lady I was involved in essential work. I knew God expected me to shepherd his flock and serve the spiritual and physical needs of our people, regardless of whether there was a war, a plague, or a pandemic. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” I kept thinking about that verse whenever new restrictions were put in place. I couldn’t help reflecting on how believers gathered in the catacombs (underground tombs) of Rome during the persecutions of Nero and Diocletian. I thought about how believers ministered to the sick and dying during the Black Plague of Europe. I thought about how modern Christians in China gather in secret house churches because the government has restricted where and how they are allowed to worship. 

One of the difficulties of deciding what to do during Covid had to do with the information that was given to us by the health department. Early on, we were told the virus had the potential to wipe out a huge percentage of the population, not only of America, but of the world. Our family was concerned, just like everyone else. We sheltered in place for several weeks. I remember going on countless bike rides with our kids because that was an officially approved way to exercise while remaining six feet apart from other people. 

Our church family took all our services online. Our church staff frantically learned  how to set up a livestream and then we had to make sure all our people had access to it. We started using Zoom for our staff meetings and for weekly meetings. I remember organizing a Passover Seder meal with a livestream from our home! As the months passed by, we realized we would have to adapt to the federal, state, and county-wide restrictions. When the restrictions lifted, our leadership team decided to offer services over the radio at church. People drove up and watched the service, while tuning into 102.5 FM. Later people gathered on the lawn to worship together, while social distancing. We were finally able to go back indoors to worship, while providing hand sanitizer and face masks. We went out of our way to work with the county officials and the board of supervisors. We did all that work because we were convinced that the work of the church is essential. 

It wasn’t until February 23, 2023 that our governor officially ended the state of emergency. That means that our state was under Covid restrictions for almost three years. It is remarkable to look back and consider how our lives were impacted by the virus and the federal, state, and county guidelines. It is encouraging to me to see how God was able to sustain his people during the pandemic. It gives me hope that Christians will be able to continue to thrive, regardless of what difficulties come our way. 1 John 4:4 can be a great encouragement to believers today, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 

Physical Wealth or Spiritual Health? 

June 9, 2023 /

Is it easier to live as a faithful Christian in a rich country or a poor country? Is it better for your spiritual health to be surrounded by possessions and the temptations of wealth or to live in a poor country with less distractions? I had to spend time living outside the United States before I realized that wealth can be one of most dangerous enemies of the Christian life. 

The Bible teaches about the dangers of wealth. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (English Standard Version) Jesus Christ surprised his disciples when he said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24) I know American Christians would agree with this statement, but how many of us would call ourselves rich? How many of us want to admit that we are a part of the group that would find it difficult to enter heaven? 

This is important to consider because we can deceive ourselves into thinking we are not wealthy. Many American Christians wouldn’t think of themselves as rich because our society often uses that term for the upper 1% of a society. The truth about wealth, that is often overlooked in our country, is that the majority of Americans are richer than the most of the world. I found a website that lets you enter your income and family size in order to see how much of the world is richer and poorer than you. (howrichami.givingwhatwecan.org) I entered the average US income from 2021 ($70,784) with two parents and four children into the wealth calculator. The results are that if you made that much you would be richer than 89.9% of the world! 

During my research for this article I also learned that America has had the largest economy in the world every year since 1871! This means that even though the country went through immense difficulty during the Great Depression, we were still the largest economy in the world. This also means that people whose families have been in this country for the last one hundred and fifty years have become accustomed to a culture of wealth. It is the air we breathe. We may not think of ourselves as rich, but compared to the majority of people in the world, we certainly are. And if you compare the wealth of American Christians today to the people that Jesus was speaking to in Matthew 19, then the difference is even more stark. 

In Jesus’ time the majority of people were living in what would be described today as abject poverty. Most people were subsistence farmers who did not own the land they farmed. They had to pay significant taxes to the land owners and to tax collectors who kept a large percentage of profits for themselves and gave the rest to their Roman rulers. If people from Jesus’ day could come and see how we live today, they would think we were even wealthier than the rich young ruler. They might have been impressed with the many possessions that he had, but what would they think about the cars we drive or the homes we live in? What would they think about air conditioning? They wouldn’t even have a category to describe the kind of wealth we have and take for granted. 

I think this is fascinating to think about because Jesus’ point in Matthew 19 is that it is difficult for rich people to enter heaven. Rich people, like the rich young ruler, have “great possessions” that can get in the way of their relationship with God. The rich young ruler went away “sorrowful” because he knew he would have to give up the idol of his wealth in order to serve God faithfully. I often think about this in terms of living in the United States. It is a common occurrence to see Christians get drawn into the rat race of riches. It is easy to find yourself looking around, thinking that we need more wealth to be happy. I have to constantly remind myself that God does not want me to store up treasures here on earth, “where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.” (Matt. 6:19) He wants me to live for eternity. He wants me to live ready to give up any of my physical possessions to follow after him. He doesn’t want me to be sorrowful when I think of giving up time and money for him. He wants me to be joyful! 

When I read the account of the rich young ruler, I am sobered because I know I am in danger of acting like the rich man. I am in danger of being caught up with the temptations that wealth and comfort bring. I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to live in less affluent countries like Albania, Malaysia, and Thailand. My time in those countries convinced me that with wealth comes spiritual apathy. Instead of relying on God for our daily bread, people in wealthy countries often forget about God (Proverbs 30:8-9). Instead of learning to walk by the Spirit in slower economies, American Christians often feel the need to keep apace with the frenzied pace of an affluent society. I often think about how different life would be if people couldn’t afford the automobile or internet access. Would we immediately discover that we have more time to fellowship with people the way believers did in the early church. We would have time to practice the “one anothers” as we are commanded to in Scripture (1 Cor. 11:33, Gal. 5:13, 6:2, Eph. 4:2). 

I have been rushed to even write this article. There are deadlines and responsibilities that come from living in California that keep everyone busy. I wish I had time today to write about the other dangers to spiritual growth that come with wealth and comfort. The dangers of spiritual laziness and complacency. The danger of fearing man rather than God. These are very real symptoms of a life that is devoted to the pursuit of wealth.

God may bless you with wealth and great possessions, but the Christian must always remember that this world’s wealth is transitory. The wealth that God is concerned about is spiritual wealth and riches and that can only be found by keeping focused on God and dependent on him. 

The Bride of Christ

June 2, 2023 /

Imagine going to a wedding where the bridesmaids were given more attention than the bride. Wouldn’t it be strange to see the bridesmaids wearing beautiful white gowns while the bride was adorned in a plain dress? People wouldn’t know what to do. They would wonder “Who is getting married here? Why are the bridesmaids stealing the show?” They would be in an uproar because everyone knows the wedding is for the bride and groom. The bridesmaids are there to support the bride, not to take attention away from her. 

In Ephesians 5:25, the apostle Paul wrote, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” 

This is a great illustration to meditate upon. Ephesians 5 is telling us that a husband’s love for his wife is supposed to be modeled after the supernatural, sacrificial love of Jesus Christ! In the same way that he was willing to give his life up for the church, a Christian husband should be willing to love his wife and care for her. This is a weighty responsibility for every husband. It fits into God’s greater plan to use marriage to help the church become more holy. Think about it. Can a husband do a good job leading his wife in holiness if he is not pursuing a holy life himself? He needs to be setting the course for his wife and his children so that they can all be transformed into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).

The main point of Ephesians 5:25-27 is to reveal what type of love a husband is supposed to have for his wife. A secondary point is that Christ is uniquely focused on the purity and spiritual growth of the church. He is like a groom that is waiting for his bride, the church, to be prepared for the wedding feast! Revelation 19:6-9 gives us a prophetic preview of the wedding feast where the bride will finally be presented to the groom, Jesus Christ. It says, ““Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 

These true words of God reveal that Christians are to think of their lives as a time to prepare for the marriage supper of the Lamb. The wedding dress of the bride is made up of the righteous deeds of the saints. This is a helpful image. God wants believers to see their work and recreation as either preparing for the marriage feast or not. Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” 

The will of the Lord for believers living today is to live for the marriage feast of the Lamb. It is to be invested in the local church, which is the physical representation of the bride of Christ. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” The day referred to in Hebrews 10 includes the judgment of God, but it also includes a view towards the eternal state, when the bride of Christ will be united with the groom, Jesus Christ. 

Personally, I find it helpful to think about life in terms of this wedding illustration. Am I thinking about the church being prepared as the bride of Christ? Or am I being lulled into complacency by only thinking about the church as a building that needs upkeep and maintenance? Do I know what role I am supposed to play as a part of the body of Christ? Am I being faithful in my role as a husband and father? Am I living in light of the wedding feast of the Lamb? Am I focused on preparing the bride for the groom? These questions will help us keep our focus on things that will last. Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) 

May God give us the grace and the strength to be able to keep our focus on the wedding feast of the lamb so that we might live in light of eternity, not the temporary world that we currently live in. 

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