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The Older, Tired, and Orthodox

August 24, 2024 / Chris

My journey to what I now believe has included doubt, faith, struggle, failure, prayer, and study. The path from Free Will Baptist to Lutheran included stops within the Southern Baptist Convention and the Presbyterian Church in America. I’ve written and wrestled throughout the process, but I thought it might be helpful to give an overview.

Fundamentals and Fundamentalists

The concrete nature of fundamentalism in a local church steadied significant chaotic aspects of my childhood. As I matured in my faith, I reacted harshly against fundamentalism and still have to be cautious as I interact with those still in that camp. However, I’m trying to understand the importance of the fundamentals while also recognizing the dangers inherent in fundamentalism.

The precious believers in that fundamentalist church were sincere. I grew to have deep convictions that differed from many of theirs, but I’ve also grown to appreciate that they told me about God’s love, Jesus’ death and resurrection, and my need for Him.

Nonetheless, I could not abide by the legalism that questioned salvation over dancing, going to the movies, or listening to rock-n-roll. Understanding the difference between the fundamentals of faith and fundamentalism as a movement can help to properly critique the latter while being gracious to those who want to uphold the former.

The Young, Restless, and Reformed

In my senior year of high school and my first year of bible college, the writings and ministries of John Piper and R.C. Sproul shook my theological world. My fundamentalist foundation encountered the young, restless, and reformed movement. Calvinism provided an intellectual framework and steadying comfort in the void where fundamentalism had been.

At the time, I failed to realize that I had traded an external performance-based paradigm for an introspective performance-based one. The young, restless, and reformed movement certainly did emphasize the gospel more; however, there was still an emphasis on performance as it related to assurance within sanctification that caused struggle.

Desiring God, Ligonier, and 9 Marks offered a rooted faith that didn’t bypass the mind in calling for holiness. Those para-church organizations were excellent at resonating with so many who longed for a combination of passion for God and Biblical faithfulness. Churches essentially parroted the emphases and strategies put forth by those organizations. Despite the good that can come from exegetical rigor and appeal to personal and passionate piety, a gap of comfort, peace, and grace can leave us disenchanted and discouraged.

The Older, Tired, and Orthodox

The restless aspect of the young, restless, and reformed inevitably became spiritual exhaustion. I could not live up to the pietistic bent that much of the reformed tradition espouses. A little age, soul searching, deep study, a random visit, and a lot of grace led me to Lutheranism.

While the Reformed and Lutherans have much in common, the distinctions resulted in spiritual frustration or renewal for me, respectively. Others may feel precisely the opposite. The Reformed tradition tended toward descriptive theology, while the Lutheran tradition leaned toward prescriptive theology. One tradition takes great care to go into systematic detail about the cure, analyzing the ingredients, detailing the effects, and highlighting the backstory. The other tradition focuses on giving medicine.

It’s a matter of emphasis, not orthodoxy. What does one view as the gravitational core of the faith? What is the center? Go too far in one direction, and the gravity is so heavy that guilt and failure crush you. Head too far in the other direction, and there is so little gravity that you become unmoored from truth and grace. Both traditions have enough gravity to keep you anchored in orthodoxy, but I’m convinced by scripture a greater focus on the gospel is needed and fruitful. Preaching is an excellent example of the difference.

A Word of Comfort

Ten years ago, a theological ted talk or a particularly cutting law-based sermon would have been my definition of good preaching. A steady diet of that kind of ministry can expand one’s theological intellect yet leave you spiritually thirsty. Do a quick search of the word “preach” used as a verb, and you’ll see that it’s overwhelmingly connected to “good news” and “the gospel.”

Jesus rebuked the religious who searched the scriptures yet were blind to their testimony of Him unto eternal life (John 5:38-40). After the resurrection, Jesus interpreted the scriptures on the road to Emmaus all the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:27). Then He opened the minds of His disciples to see the fulfillment of the law, the prophets, and the Psalms to proclaim the suffering and rising of Christ toward repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:44-47).

Beyond signs and wisdom, Paul preached the stumbling block of Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23) and reiterated this focus on Christ Crucified, not dependent on wisdom or lofty speech (1 Corinthians 2:1-2). Paul’s encouraging word to those in Antioch highlighted Israel’s history and the good news of the death and resurrection of Christ, which grants freedom that Moses’ law could not (Acts 13:16-41). The hearers were begging to be told these things again on the next Sabbath (Acts 13:42).

These passages are a small sampling of the gospel-centered nature of scripture and preaching. Being a part of services with such a focus brought peace, grace, consolation, and rest to my tired soul. However, that was a side effect of what I believe is a biblical emphasis on the centrality of Christ for sinners. The law must crush us, and the gospel must grant us the comfort that only comes through Christ.

It wasn’t an easy journey, and my Baptistic and Calvinistic presuppositions linger. I don’t expect everyone to make the changes I’ve made or to follow my thoughts to my conclusions. I still have to be careful not to judge others who differ with my perspective too harshly while also being willing to engage critically in a manner honoring God and faithful to His gospel. If you find yourself spiritually fatigued, perhaps my journey might inspire you to challenge your presuppositions.

Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing

March 16, 2024 / Chris

A recent sermon was a simple yet profound reminder that avoided falling prey to missing its mandate. We are individually and corporately prone to wander from the gospel of grace. The simplicity and meritless nature of the gospel make it an offense to our obsession with works. The pastor encouraged us to keep the main thing the main thing while making sure that he proclaimed the gospel to the congregation and kept the main thing central himself. Mission creep is a struggle for all kinds of organizations, but the stakes of the church missing the mark are dire. There are several common ways this can happen.

Missing the Forest for the Trees

What if we mine the scriptures for every ounce of exegetical content yet neglect what the scriptures themselves say they are ultimately pointing toward? I’ve sat through many sermons that missed the gospel forest for the historical, grammatical trees. While no syntactic or background rocks were left unturned, Christ crucified for sinners was left unproclaimed. This is a common way to miss the mark, with a veneer of hitting the target layered on top in the form of theological depth and hermeneutical proficiency.

Chasing Rabbits of Relevance

Pursuing cultural relevance is another common avenue of going off the Emmaus path (Luke 24:13-34) of focusing on Christ. There will always be shiny ideas or trends that captivate our attention and try to lure us away from the stranger who interprets the scriptures with an eye to the messiah. Sociological studies, entertainment fads, and the latest ministry hype are easy distractions. Still, those rabbits of relevance are as fruitless as they are numerous.

Success Versus Fruitfulness

Fruitfulness is being connected to the vine and carrying out ministry through word and sacrament based on Christ. That kind of ministry bears fruit in God’s way and time. Success often sees measurable results and may be entirely disconnected from the vine. We frequently view ministry apart from word and sacrament as we pursue visitor retention rates, social media impressions, and church membership rosters. Experiencing success apart from Christ should send chills up our “ministry” spines. Success and fruitfulness are not synonymous.

Making Good Things the Main Thing

When good and noble pursuits supplant the core of the Christian faith, we can quickly turn charity into idolatry. Make no mistake. Charity is a good and noble thing, and it is a command. It is the fruit of our identity in Christ. However, it is not the main thing. Likewise, biblical morality is a good thing. It should be pursued and cultivated in the lives of believers. But our moral caliber is neither the basis of our justification nor the church’s primary mission.

Keeping the gospel the main thing doesn’t mean always preaching the same sermon; it isn’t reductionism. It keeps the primary focus in its proper place while refusing to let secondary, tertiary, or preferential issues become the center. Like the apostle Paul, we would do well to know and proclaim the simple yet powerful message of Christ and Him crucified as the main thing (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).

Leadership Communication

February 16, 2024 / Chris

Leaders typically identify one of their strengths as communication. Ironically, one of the most common frustrations among followers is poor communication (The Workplace Communications Crisis, 2022). Booher (2017) identified strategic communication as the very core of leadership and stated, “When you as a leader speak, meet, negotiate, write, or network, you either clarify or confuse, motivate or demoralize, engage or enrage employees” (p. 3). Leaders can improve communication skills, and the best leaders will routinely self-assess, conduct audits, and make communication course corrections accordingly.

Communication is a Two-way Street

The process of communication involves sending, receiving, and understanding information. Sending information does not guarantee that it is ultimately understood. Leaders often assume that an email with an attached memo equals a message received, understood, and on its way to implementation. However, the other half of that equation involves many variables to determine success.

In the introduction to his bestselling work Surrounded by Idiots, Erikson highlighted the significance of studying people and their communication. “Since I began studying how people function and painstakingly strove to understand the differences in the way we communicate, I’ve never been the same.” Communication involves people with personalities, styles, worldviews, and preferences that likely differ from ours. Acknowledging communication as a two-way street may seem incredibly simple, but it is foundational to improvement.

Communication Involves Communicators

Everyone is a communicator, and each person has a unique style. The differences in communication style can serve as breakdown points or reflection points for effective communication strategy. Leaders who embrace this reality and hone their communication to fit the mutual communicators they work with can see remarkable progress in engagement and execution.

Not only must information be sent, but it must be received, processed, understood, and ultimately integrated. Conducting a communication audit is a helpful process to identify breakdown points and form a plan to make communication a positive force in organizational engagement and productivity. Leaders must ask when, how, why, and with what frequency information is being shared at all levels. Fine-tuning those aspects with the recipients’ styles and needs in mind goes a long way toward cultivating clarity and contributing to trust, loyalty, and productivity.

Variation, Repetition, and Repetition

Practically, there is a remarkable benefit to communicating across multiple channels, in varying formats, and repetitively. An email sent, a memo delivered, or a bullet point list at the end of a team meeting does not ensure that everybody has received and is acting on the disseminated information.

Having multiple touchpoints that include written and spoken formats is a simple but effective way to increase communication impact. Automated communication tools make it easier than ever to set up a communication plan with repetition and variation.

70% of leaders believe their communication is concise and engaging. 60% of employees disagree (The Workplace Communications Crisis, 2022). This disparity is an astounding opportunity for leaders to reflect and grow. Recognizing the dual nature of communication and understanding the personal nuances are perspective shifts that can impact leadership effectiveness in this area. Practically, weaving together a communication plan that incorporates multiple ways of communication numerous times is a simple but powerful strategy to bring clarity.

References

Booher, Dianna. Communicate like a Leader: Connecting Strategically to Coach, Inspire, and Get Things Done. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2017.

Erikson, Thomas. Surrounded by Idiots: The Four Types of Human Behaviour (or, How to Understand Those Who Cannot Be Understood). Random House, 2019.

The workplace communications crisis. (2022). Axios. https://www.axioshq.com/research/comms-report-2022?utm_campaign=comms-report-2022&utm_source=pr summit&utm_medium=email&utm_content=comms-report-2022

When You’re at Your Worst

December 2, 2023 / Chris

Christianity isn’t a religion for the few who have their acts together. Our great temptation is always to think that merit is our path to God. The gospel’s good news is that despite being at our worst, Christ’s perfection is our own by faith. We have faulty assumptions and protest the notion that our standing with God would come from outside ourselves.

Faulty Assumptions

We think God might accept us when we string together a few weeks of decent Christian living. We fail to realize that the cross settled our acceptance before God. Our striving to bring our accomplishments, hard-won victories, and good deeds as the basis of our forgiveness is a slap in the face of the Savior who alone lived perfectly, died redemptively, and rose again triumphantly.

On the day that we live our most God-pleasing life and on the day that we find ourselves in the dumpster heap of sinful failure, God is equally for us in Christ. We find that mind-boggling, and it leads to spiritual hand-wringing. What is the alternative except works righteousness, which God describes as the filthy rags of human merit?

We Doth Protest

At this point, you might be protesting. Such a radical view of God’s grace, mercy, and love will undoubtedly lead to reckless Christian living. Paul anticipated such an objection and raised it himself. Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! Getting it right requires a shock to our meritorious mindset, followed by the exclamation that we must not tolerate sin. One does not negate the other.

Where do you find yourself? Have you had a good month? Or have you made such a mess of things you can scarcely lift your head to utter a prayer? Remember, Christ came for sinners. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Go and sin no more. Think about what is honorable, just, pure, commendable, and lovely.

Do your iniquities burden you? Lift your head. You’re worse off than you think. Yet God in the great gospel reversal is for you in Christ. Your biggest problem is more profound than your actions of failure. You are a sinner who inherited a fallen nature from our first father. But thanks be to God that Jesus Christ has lived a perfect life, gone to the cross on our behalf, and risen from the dead.

Lift your head, but only to look to Jesus. Swim in the depths of His mercy and grace. Seek His face, deny yourself, and repent daily. When you’re at your best and when you’re at your worst, look to Christ, and you will find your judge and Savior.

An Artificial Intelligence Tall Tale

November 3, 2023 / Chris

Tall tales have an ongoing relevance, and the wisest man there ever was reminds us that there is nothing new under the sun. The tall tale of John Henry is as applicable today as ever.

John Henry went up against a steam-powered drilling machine in an epic contest. He beat the machine but lost his life. The practical implications have spanned the railroads and automation across industries, and now, we are in the modern era where artificial intelligence is at the forefront of our societal conversation.
A blogging champion may arise to go toe-to-toe with Chat GPT. Unfortunately, we’ve already seen the results of that match-up, and humanity cannot compete in producing content. However, there are more profound questions to ask than whether or not artificial intelligence can do things more efficiently.

Will our literature be reduced to zeroes and ones? Can artistic beauty and creativity be computed? What are the long-term effects of sidelining people in the creative process?

Imagine a hero named Gates Jeffreys rising to challenge artificial intelligence to a dual of creative wits. The AI has five articles written before Gates can finish brainstorming a topic. Yet those five articles are missing something. Make no mistake, there are no mistakes. There is also no heart. There are no subtle, intuitive turns of phrase that bring empathy through a written format because of personal experience.

Gates Jeffreys possesses the spark of inspiration that comes through the ebbs and flows of human existence. AI can try to replicate patterns that emulate, but it cannot have a gut instinct. So, while the algorithms generated blog content twelve times faster than Gates, he followed a hunch and wrote something entirely uncharacteristic of his usual style. That hunch led to something that the competition metrics wouldn’t measure: meaningful resonance on a personal level.

Gates’ single article reached someone who needed to hear his story, and they reached out to him. The shared experience brought healing and discussion of connecting with others facing the same issue. AI pumped out another slew of articles, but Gates’ impulsive decision to finally share his story led to a movement of healing.

The debate on artificial intelligence is just beginning. Many, much more knowledgeable about the topic than I, are making decisions that will shape our future. Nonetheless, there is another layer to the conversation, and I encourage all my fellow humans to keep writing, thinking, discussing, connecting, planning, painting, and performing. A coded program may do it more proficiently, but it cannot do it more “human.”