The Pronouns of Depravity

Enoch Burke, a teacher at Wilson's Hospital School (part of the Church of Ireland's private school system) has been arrested. Burke was told by the principal that he should no longer refer to one of his students with masculine pronouns, but with feminine ones. He refused. Because of his refusal, an Irish court banned him from the premises of the school. When he showed up the next day to teach his class, he was arrested. He is now in jail - and will remain there over Christmas - unless he chooses to recant.

Allow me to state this in plain English: A teacher is in jail because he refused to call a boy by a girls pronoun. He refused to call a he, "she".

I know we shouldn't be surprised. We were warned it was coming. But I guess much like the Messiah was foretold - when Christ finally came many did not realize that he was the one prophesied - we read the warning but didn't realize the depth or the magnitude of what it would look like. Who could have or would have dreamed up or imagined this level of shear lunacy?

Let's remember the warning Paul gave us in Romans 1:18-27. Please take a moment to read his words:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

There are not many things God has made more obvious in all of Creation than his intent and design between man and woman. The anatomy, physiology, biology, and even chemistry fit together like a 2-piece puzzle for a toddler to put together. "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27) This is the debate we've been having for the last several decades, permeating the culture and attempting to invade the church. Is homosexuality a sin? But over the last decade, that question, controversy, and debate almost seem like child's play. We've now entered an era of children - not adults, but children - making the decision to change their sex. To be clear, Paul told us that many would "by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." He said they would "exchange the truth for a lie." I guess I naively thought it would be over deceptive, unclear things. I assumed this water would be really muddy, not crystal clear. 

I was wrong.

Many believe this issue begins with our feelings. There are boys who feel like girls and girls who feel like boys. Nevermind that many of them feel this way because their progressive parents have supplanted the idea in their head, or worse yet, literally dressed them up as the opposite sex. Children who are not old enough to drive, vote, drink alcohol, pick up their own prescription, or even hit puberty are now being given the right - many times forced into the decision - to change their sex. Kids are allowed to determine what and how a teacher can refer to them. Yes, this is complete lunacy. It would be outright laughable if it wasn't so completely detestable. And yet, here we are. Right where Paul said we would be. 

Please consider this: The issue does not begin with your feelings. It begins with whether or not you believe God's Word to be the TRUTH. 

We're not talking about complex issues of eschatology or the hypostatic union of Christ or the Trinity. We're talking about believing that the Creator of all things knew what he was doing when he made a male a male and a female a female. He did that. His choice. His design. "...male and female he created them." We don't get to VETO the design of the one, true, magnificent Creator. We're not given the option to circumvent our Maker; only submit and surrender.

To repeat myself: The issue does not begin with our feelings.

There are days where and when a woman doesn't feel loved by her husband. She finds herself fighting off feeling like finding someone else to make her feel special. She may even be tempted to cheat - to commit adultery. Does this make her an adulterer? Should she listen to her feelings? 

Someone, somewhere out there today, is going to get angry. Really angry! And he's going to be so angry that he even has a thought of doing something to harm the person who made him angry. He feels like making someone pay for what they've said and done. For a split second...he thinks about murder. Does this make him a murderer? Should he listen to his feelings?

A teacher in Ireland will very likely be sitting in jail this Christmas, away from his family, not because he stole something or wounded someone or committed a crime. No. He's in jail because a boy feels like a girl. And the adults in his life don't love him and/or fear the Creator enough to tell him the truth. Enoch Burke is in jail because he fears and reveres the Creator more than his creation. He's in jail because he said what we all know to be true: a boy is a boy. He is a HE. 

"...male and female he (God) created them."

I pray that you refuse to exchange the truth for a lie. It's only in the TRUTH that we we will actually find the freedom we're so desperately searching for. 

Roe v. Wade: How Should We Respond?

As I'm sure you're aware, last week the Supreme Court of the United States of America overturned Roe v. Wade. In a majority vote, SCOTUS ruled that it is not a constitutional right for a woman to have an abortion. It is now left up to each State to determine and enforce their own abortion laws. This was an incredibly momentous victory on behalf of protecting the unborn and advocating for life. While this ruling is unquestionably something to celebrate, I believe it should lead us - the Church - to prayerfully consider how we are to respond in this moment. 

To put it to a question: What should we do as a result of the overturning of Roe v. Wade?

First off, this is a pivotal moment for the people of God to become the greatest advocates and strongest participants in the foster system. No one should be more present and active in adopting and fostering children than the Church. While we are not all capable or able to adopt or foster a child, we have a wealth of resources and opportunities to come alongside those who can and do. There are countless ways we can support those who are opening up their homes and lives for the sake of the orphan. If we want more and more women to eliminate abortion from the list of options, there has to be a rising tide - maybe a flood is a better description - of Jesus followers who are ready, willing, and able to adopt.

 

Let me say it this way: If you are anti-abortion, then you are pro-adoption.

 

As of 2017 statistics, over 92.33% of the women who had an abortion listed "No reason (elective)" as the determining factor in aborting their baby. In other words, very often it is simply an inconvenience. [Further statistics show that .065% of abortions are from the woman's life being in danger, .288% are because of the woman's physical health being threatened, .666% were from a fetal abnormality, and 6.268% were due to social or economic reasons.] I share this with you for 2 reasons. The first is to expose that over 92% of the time, abortion is a decision of convenience. Or inconvenience, whichever way you choose to look at it. The second reason I share this with you is to assure you that standing in the gap - caring for the orphan - is an inconvenience.

 

This summer we will be affirming 3 new deacons at The Brook. One of those deacons will be Sara Couch, whose husband Matt is already one of our current deacons. Matt and Sara are a vital part of our worship team, and host/lead one of our Missional Communities. As experienced foster parents themselves over the last several years, we have asked Matt and Sara to lead our efforts to effectively serve all of our foster and adoptive families and to help us cultivate new ways of serving the foster and adoptive community in our city. I do not believe these things are all happening simultaneously by accident or coincidence. This is clearly the Lord's timing.

 

As I've touched on what we can and should be doing as the Body of Christ, allow me to close by addressing how we should be responding to this watershed moment in our culture. To put it simply, as Jesus has called us to be salt and light to the world around us, the only way to accomplish this is through understanding our own brokenness and seeing the lost world around us through the loving eyes of the Father. While social media or TV will show you the extremes (there are most certainly people out there who are completely driven by evil and darkness), most women who ever contemplate the horror of abortion are consumed by shame, guilt, embarrassment, loneliness, and fear. Hate and anger will not drive them to the Lord. Only the love of God manifested in and through the people of God will overcome darkness. So, these are not days to boast or gloat, but to walk in humility and grace. May we walk and live as Jesus did.

 

Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in adultery. But he also did not overlook her sin. He told her, "Go and sin no more."

 

Jesus did not condemn the Samaritan woman at the well. But he also did not pretend that her empty pursuit for hope and peace would eventually pay off. He showed her and told her where to find living water!

 

Friends, it's time our PRO-LIFE stance become way bigger and bolder than simply being ANTI-ABORTION. If we are going to be truly pro-life, then our own lives will be interruptible. We will most certainly be "inconvenienced." But this is the worship our Lord is looking for.

 

In describing true fasting and worship, God said, "Is it not to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own family? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise from the darkness..." (Isaiah 58:6-10) [italics mine]

 

Join me in crying out to our Heavenly Father:

Lord, please open our eyes and break our hearts, that we might be willing to be poured out for those who need you. Make our lives interruptible; living sacrifices for the sake of the gospel. Your Kingdom come; your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

 

I'm grateful for you and I'm praying for you today. May the Lord transform the world around us as we live intentionally to bring His Kingdom everywhere we go!

Hurt By the Church

Over the years I’ve had numerous conversations with people who said these words: I’ve been hurt by the church. 

While some folks made this statement in a counseling session where deep wounds and hurts were possibly being shared, others have actually been very casual, in a conversation at the gym or even simply in passing. When someone made this comment to me most recently (just a few weeks ago) for some reason it was like someone shoved a stick in the spokes of my bike. It stopped me dead in my tracks. Some very clear thoughts flooded my mind and I felt I needed to share them.

The first thing that needs to be communicated is that I fully and firmly believe there are individuals, couples, and even families who have been wounded by people, pastors, groups, and decisions made within the church. Groups have been so exclusive that new families could never find their way in. Pastors have misused their authority and acted more like King Herod than King Jesus. Theological differences have been expressed as dogma and isolated people to the point that they felt pushed out. I could go on and on, but the fact remains: people have been hurt in the church.

It's imperative that we key in on that last statement.

SIDENOTE: I get really hung up on words. So much so, many close to me might even say I obsess over them. Words can be like a scalpel or a bulldozer; two very different tools for very different uses and purposes. You better choose the right one. Back to the point.

Every single time I have had this feeling or experience shared with me, it has been expressed with the words: I've been hurt by the church. Here's why this statement and idea can be so detrimental and destructive, both to the churches being referenced and the individuals who feel they've been wounded: the Church didn't hurt you.

The Church is the Body of Christ.

Granted, the Church (and the local churches through which it is expressed) is made up of people. Fallible, sinful people. Those people often make mistakes, make self-centered decisions, and put themselves first. People hurt people. Even in the church. Pastors and priests have abused church members. Congregations have split over utterly minuscule disagreements, leaving many members in shock and confusion. The list of circumstances is much longer than any of us would like to admit. People are hurt in the church all the time. And maybe you're one of those people. If so, I hope to encourage you with some thoughts.

People are hurt in dating relationships all the time as well. A boyfriend doesn't listen to the word, "No." A girlfriend convinces herself it's OK to cheat. Someone goes to dinner expecting a possible greater commitment, only to be told, "This isn't working out. It's not you; it's me."

OUCH! You can almost feel the dagger going through your heart.

In this instance, dating didn't hurt you; your boyfriend did. The "institution" of dating didn't break its commitment; your girlfriend did. And while it may take weeks or months - possibly even years - to come to the point that you feel like you can open yourself back up, become vulnerable, and begin dating again, you eventually tell yourself to get back on the horse, get back in the game, stick your neck and your heart out there and date again. It's what you do. You're a little fearful. You wonder how it's going to go. But you know it's worth it. And eventually, you date again.

The Church is not your boyfriend. The Church is the Body of Christ.

Someone or something in your church may have hurt you in the past. Many have been there. When I was still fairly young in ministry, I dropped the ball with a few things I'd been asked to do. The way those "over me" handled the situation left me hurt, embarrassed, and even bitter for quite some time. A year later it took a shouting match on the side of the road between me and the Lord for me to leave those wounds at the Cross and turn them over to Him. But I knew from the outset, the Church didn't hurt me; those individuals did. I didn't leave or divorce the local church. That was never an option. Through the mercy and grace of God - through the power of the gospel - the Lord healed those wounds. And He's used them in my own heart and life to pay close attention to how I disciple, lead, affirm, and even rebuke those that the Lord has called me to shepherd.

I am part of the Body of Christ. And if you are a follower of Christ, so are you. Divorce is not an option.

I don't know how long the wound has festered or the hurt has been hardening in your heart, but I exhort and admonish you today: come back! 

If you forsake the bride, you are rejecting the bridegroom. 

Jesus says, "The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price." Right now, the Bride of Christ is crying out to the Lord, "Come, Lord Jesus!" It's a corporate groaning and longing for all things to be made new. I encourage you today: Come. Come and find your place in the Body of Christ and join the cry that is going to ring through eternity: "Come, Lord Jesus!"

Christ loves the Church. He gave His life for her.

We are the Body of Christ. We are the Church.

May our love for one another show a lost world the love of the Savior!

"Come, Lord Jesus!"