Applying The Bible to Our Culture and World

These are the opinions of Jeff Phillips, pastor of an inner city Southern Baptist church in the heart of the bible belt. These views do not represent Woodfield Park Baptist Church, Ashley my wife, our 3 dogs or 3 cats.







Sunday, July 27, 2014

#Megachurches #Bordercrisis #Timetolead

Our blog last week (see When We Think Like Americans Instead of Christians) regarding the ongoing border crisis generated plenty of discussion. It is an emotional issue. On one hand, we have our nation. Spiraling in debt, open borders, laws ignored, political turmoil, international hot spots around the world occupying us. On the other hand, we have children. Children in need. Children in trouble. Children in danger. The premise I laid out was this: Our government is not going to deal with this border crisis satisfactorily. We've had a border problem for 30+ years and have yet to solve it. We won't. We have nearly 60,000 children being detained who have crossed our border with more on the way. They are fleeing wretched lives in countries where the governments are non existent, laws are what the drug running gangs say, sex trafficking thrives, violence and death are a daily way of life, poverty suffocates and desperation has given birth to panic. They are here. More are coming. So what....what can we do?

My response was it is time for the church, the body of Christ, to actually begin acting like the church.

Let's get some facts on the table. Most of these children are coming from 3 countries in Central America which are among the darkest places on the globe right now. They are Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. According to our U.S. Customs and Border Apprehensions records, apprehensions from Honduras are up 593%. Honduras has the #1 murder rate in the world. Apprehensions from Guatemala are up 416%. Guatemala has the #2 murder rate in the world. Apprehensions from El Salvador are up 330%. El Salvador has the #5 murder rate in the world. In every instance, the number one reason stated for fleeing these nations by these children is violence spurred by the drug trade that floods from Columbia through these countries and Mexico, and to the U.S., where they are being illegally distributed, and consumed, by us. So for fear of life, these children are running in ever increasing numbers, to us. They are here. More are coming. What can we do?

It is time for the church, the body of Christ, to begin acting like the church.

So how does this begin? Well, how about with the most prosperous, affluent, churches in the world, the American megachurch. Just here in South Carolina, a small state, we have 35 churches classified as megachurches. The classic definition of a megachurch is one with an average attendance of 1000 or more on a weekly basis. Of the 35 in South Carolina, according to reported numbers, all average 1800 or more per Sunday. The largest of these are Newspring Church based in Anderson with an average attendance approaching 30,000 counting all campuses, pastor Perry Noble. Redemption World Outreach Center in Greenville with attendance approaching 15,000, pastor Ron Carpenter. Seacoast Church in Mt. Pleasant with attendance approaching 15,000, pastor Greg Surratt. Brookland Baptist Church in Columbia with attendance approaching 10,000, pastor Charles Jackson. And Brookwood Church in Simpsonville with attendance approaching 8,000, pastor Perry Duggar. We might as well throw in Elevation Church of Charlotte, NC with attendance over 15,000 as many South Carolinian's attend there, pastor Steven Furtick. Friends, that's just in tiny old South Carolina! Now think of all the megachurches across our nation. To these churches, we have a crisis. We have children, the very least among us, in danger and in need. These needs are only going to grow. To the American megachurch, it is time to step up and lead!!!

The megachurch has caused much disagreement among many Christians. Many view them through the lens of narcissism. The pastors routinely make six or seven figure salaries, not to mention what they make off of book sales and speaking fees. Many of these pastors have private jets, limos, multiple million dollar homes. They worship in cathedrals of opulence. Spend millions on video and sound systems, lighting and special effects that rival a U2 concert. They have the most people, the most money and the most influence. It is time for them to lead.

True biblical leadership requires sacrifice. The greatest leader of all time, our Lord Jesus Christ, willingly sacrificed His life. The apostles gave theirs as well, as have many others over the last 2000 years standing for the faith. Leaders in the New Testament endured hardship, suffering, and persecution. They did so with joy. They never attained riches nor sought them. Jesus left the glory of heaven for the poverty of this earth. The foxes had holes and the birds had nests, but the Son of Man had no place to lay His head. Compare that, to the American church today. True biblical leadership requires sacrifice. It also requires humility.

Humility to place the needs of others above our own. Humility to willfully submit to God. Humility to model before people that we are called to serve, not be served. Humility to live like Jesus Christ, not Beyonce or Jay Z. True biblical leadership requires sacrifice, it requires humility, and it requires obedience.

Obedience to the will of God, and who in God's will and word is more precious to Him than children? Is there one place in scripture where Jesus refused children? He welcomed them at every turn, and they loved Him in return. They were naturally drawn to Him, and He always, without exception, embraced them, loved them, taught them and protected them. Yet on our borders right now, children fleeing hellish conditions are being greeted by crowds of angry Americans, shouting them down, calling them criminals, demanding they leave. Go back to where you came from! We don't want you!

Biblical leadership requires many things, and biblical leadership is required now. And to the American megachurch, it needs to begin with you. Are you willing to lead in modeling sacrifice before our ever growing godless nation in showing the love of Jesus Christ to these children? Are you willing to lead in humbling yourselves and submit to God's clear will in regards to children and obey His call to "suffer" them? Pastor, are you willing to look in the mirror, see the excess, and lead your people in sacrifice, humility and obedience. Count the costs, as they are always there. But are you willing to lead, work across denominational lines, unite the body of Christ and meet this crisis on our borders with the compassion and love we as the church are called to show?

Pastor, will you sell a house? Fully donate your book sales? Get rid of a jet? Take a pay cut? In your churches will you scale back the entertainment value, the luxuries and the dollars, for the sake of a child? You may lose some folks who desire the flesh to be pleased, but are they really that big of a loss? Is that all worship is? Not according to the bible. In Genesis 22, the first place in scripture where the word worship is mentioned(Gen 22:5), it speaks of Abraham heading to the mountain top to kill his son Isaac at God's command. It called worship the willingness to obey and sacrifice. Will you lead in doing this? Will you put off a building campaign and keep that extra service? Delay a new satellite campus or church launch for the sake of the mission field on our borders right now? Will you fully utilize the tremendous blessing you have been shown from above for the sake of the least of these in detainment with little hope or future visible to them? Will you show them Jesus? Will you lead?

Megachurch member, will you set the example? Follow those who lead you in sacrifice, humility and obedience? Will you take one of the least of these in to your homes? Yes, it won't be convenient, but neither was the cross! We in the small church may only be able to take in one, but will you, the millions upon millions of you, take in many? Will you love a desperate child, show them Jesus, make a disciple and prayerfully equip a missionary to return to their homelands? Will you give up the comfort and splendor where you worship and become lowly and meek as Jesus did for us? The government says right now we cannot bring them home with us, is that the will of God? Since when is the government ruler of this universe? Will we settle for that, or stand together as one. One body! His body! And not take no for an answer. Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against His church. Neither will our government, if we stand together.

This crisis is growing and will only increase. We, here in America, have a choice. We, the American church, need to lead this nation, and that will only happen if we bind ourselves together. Ecclesiastes 4:12 tells us, "Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken." These children have only one hope, and that is us.

Shall we allow them to simply be returned to there homes and once again face gangs and drugs, murder and death, become victims of sex trafficking, oppressive poverty? For these children, is that what is best? Friends, God is bringing the least of these to our doorstep. How does He expect us, His church, to respond? As Americans, or His body? With indifference, or with love?

They are here. More are coming. What can we do?

Isn't about time for the church to start acting like the church? Ditch our lone wolf mentalities that it's about our church or our denomination? Become one body, burying our non essential doctrinal differences, and unite around Jesus? Put aside our comforts and pleasures for the sake of others? For the sake of the least of these, innocent children? Isn't it about time this actually, finally happens?

Megachurches, this needs to begin with you.

Monday, July 21, 2014

When We Think Like Americans Instead of Christians

I want to share with you something that has truly been burdening my heart. It has to do with the current border crisis our nation now finds itself in. Before I share with you, I do want to state some things I honestly believe about our borders. I do believe we must find a way to stop the ridiculous amount of illegal immigration that has been occurring along our southern border. It is a national threat when we have no clue who or what is crossing our borders and first and foremost our borders should be secured. The laws we have in place provide for this, but have not been enforced, and because of this, we find ourselves in a very difficult situation.

That situation is the tens of thousands of children that are currently being detained by our government, and the tens of thousands more who could be on the way. While no doubt many nefarious characters have crossed our borders, these children, at the urging of parents and others, have come to our border and entered our nation with no ill intent. They are innocents in this, mostly unaware of our laws, and certainly influenced by the ease at which many relatives have entered our nation illegally. But they are here, and they are still coming, and we find ourselves struggling with just how to handle this.

The laws of our nation clearly state that these children should be deported back to their nations of origin. I understand the law, and agree with it, but this is no ordinary situation. In my heart I am struggling with this, and the source for my struggles is the clear teaching of the word of God.

In Luke 18:15-17 we read this: "Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly I say to you whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

Their are a couple of lessons here. The first obviously is that we must come to Christ with a child like faith(v.17). But another lesson is presented here, and that is how we are to deal with real little children. I'm going to be making some applications here, but applications I believe are valid to our current situation as a nation. These children have been brought to our nation, a nation that has proudly proclaimed itself to be a nation founded upon the teachings of the bible from it's foundation. As Christians in America, we are called the body of Christ, and we are to be distinctly different from the deteriorating culture that surrounds us. These children in Luke are being brought so that Jesus could touch them, and as the body of Christ, are we not called to minister to children as well? Where else is one to receive a touch from Jesus than from His body here on earth? Does this apply to just American children, or should we view all children with the same heart that Jesus always did? That, my friends, is the question.

Notice here in Luke it is the disciples, those who are closest to Jesus, who rebuke those bringing the children. They believe these children to be a nuisance to the Lord, that they will be an unneeded burden to Him. But Jesus intercedes and calls the children to Himself, saying "do not forbid them, for such is the kingdom of God." How are we as Christians viewing these children who have been dumped on our doorstep? Do we see them as a burden? Or do we see them as souls who need Jesus? Are they illegals, or a mission field? It is the reaction of many Christians that has burdened my heart in this regard. Many Christians seem to be taking the same path the disciples took when they forbade the children in coming to Christ. Understand, we are His body, His church. Children are coming to our so-called Christian nation, and many who claim Jesus as Savior and Lord are simply saying, send them back, they are a nuisance.  Is this truly how Jesus would respond to this situation?

Look, I'm not saying there are easy answers here. Just how do you handle such an influx of children? I have no confidence in our government to rightly handle this, but what of the church? What exactly is our mission? What has Jesus told us of how we should view those that are truly "the least of these." Well, Jesus' words in Matthew 25 are very clear on this. Jesus tells us here of a judgment that will occur determining just who is righteous, and who is not. Who are His sheep and hear His voice, and who is a goat and is not. He says of those who are righteous in v.35-36, "For when I was hungry you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was in prison and you came to Me." The righteous were puzzled, and asked Him, "Lord," when did we do these things? And what was Jesus' response in Matthew 25:40? "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." I ask exactly, who are these children gathered at our border if not the "least of these?" Do you see an issue here? If we are the body of Christ, how should we being viewing these children? Are they simply illegals who will be a burden to our nation, or are they the very "least of these," the very ones Jesus calls us to minister too?

I have to tell you I am struggling with exactly how many Christians are responding to this crisis. We say to our leaders, turn to God! Follow the Lord's ways! We cry out, rightly I add, at the sin that is now being recognized as normal across the cultural spectrum. But do we have a beam in our eyes? Have we, in our zeal for our borders, made America god instead of Jesus? The laws of America are clear on what should be done, but what of God's heart for children? If we are to truly be following God here, as His body, what should be our heart and mind in regards to this? The bible is clear who comes first when God's will is contradicted by man's law. In the book of Acts we see several times the apostles rebuked by the religious Pharisees and the Sanhedrin for proclaiming Christ against their commands. In Acts 5:29 Peter gives us our course in regards to this conflict when he speaks for the apostles and says, "We ought to obey God rather than men."

So how should we, as Christians, be viewing this crisis on our border? As I've stated, I do believe we need to secure our border, but what of these children who are already here? How should we as His bride, His church, view these little children who have been brought to us? As criminals? As illegals? Or should we view them as "the least of these?" I believe how we answer this question will reveal whether as a nation, God still is on the throne in His church. If the American church can't receive the "least of these," then there is little hope for our nation ever returning to the God it once feared, respected, and dare I say, loved. In spite of our economic struggles, we are still the most prosperous nation on the earth, and have by far the most prosperous churches.

Do we worship God with our hearts, or just our lips? Are we, the body of Christ, willing and able to join together across denominational lines, and "suffer the little children?" To humble ourselves regarding the things we disagree on, and agree these children need Christ's church to come to them in their time of need? A revived church unified around the person of Christ is the only hope our nation has. And a unified church that sees these children as Jesus surely would is the hope for these children as well. There is a reason they are fleeing where they live, and it's not just our porous border and the promise of a better life. Where they live is no place for a child.

There are no easy answers here. Our government must act to secure our borders. The current situation is untenable and a threat. But what of these children? With millions upon millions who profess the name of Christ here in America, and billions upon billions of money given in His name, surely there is something we, His body, can do. Exactly what is up for debate, but to cast off as unwanted innocent children? My friends, that simply should not be an option. Not for those of us who claim Jesus.