What Do I Say After 22 years in Charleston, SC?

“Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”” Luke 19:41-44

There are three cities in the earth who carry the moniker, whether it be official or simply colloquial, “The Holy City”; Jerusalem, The Vatican, and Charleston, South Carolina. The first two are probably no surprise and perhaps even understandable given their role in the arena of religion. The last one has always seemed a tad presumptuous to me, especially after living here for 22 years and not only understanding her history but experiencing her contemporary spiritual state.

Charleston’s religious history is paradoxical in the truest sense of the word. There is no question that religion played an important role in Charleston’s founding and inception as it did in most the original American colonies and major cities. The skyline is literally dotted with dozens of steeples spiraling towards heaven pointing to God and testifying of the importance of the local church in early America. In this city one can find the “mother” church of a couple prominent denominations in America. This city hosts one of the few active French Huguenot Churches (French Calvinists who were quite evangelical in the 16th century), not to mention a remarkably conservative and Bible-believing Anglican Diocese which is currently in a battle with The Episcopal Church (liberal) over property rights since they departed the national church. I have met numerous, warmhearted, evangelical pastors from various denominations here in this city whose influence marked me for the better.

Charleston was also the site of the famous 1857 Anson Street Revival which was the precursor of the 3rd Great Awakening in America. The Awakening, historically understood, started in Charleston and not necessarily in New York (Jeremiah Lanphier actually visited the Charleston Revival and took news of it back to New York). This blog is not about this revival, but suffice it to say that what spiritually emanated from this city during that revival never impacted this city long term as it did the rest of the country. And that, I suppose, best illustrates the atmosphere of Charleston. The city is nicknamed, “The Holy City”, but beneath the veneer of notable religious history runs the paradox. This city also incarcerated George Whitefield, the itinerant voice of the 1st Great Awakening because the religious atmosphere reacted to the message of “repent”. The Wesley brothers both noted in their journals that in all their travels that Charleston (The Holy City) was perhaps the most notable for it’s despicable treatment of slaves. Yes, the city has some of the most amazing architecture with regards to it’s churches, but just below the surface runs an alternate river of reality. Millions of visitors come to this city to see the history, but Charleston has squandered its spiritual heritage and impact. It may be nicknamed, The Holy City, but don’t let that fool you. Charleston is not known for the impact of it’s churches, but rather the tragic and horrific shooting inside one of it’s churches (Mother Emmanuel). Charleston is indeed a paradox.

Jesus understood those kinds of paradoxes. The same city He loved, Jerusalem, noted for it’s religious atmosphere and destiny, would be the place where the Son of God Himself would be crucified. Jesus understood the possibilities of Jerusalem if they yielded to the hand of God, but He also faced the reality that Jerusalem had a hard time hearing that.

Perhaps the illustrations I use are too much of a stretch. I clearly understand that I am not Jesus (not even close), nor is Charleston the city of Jerusalem. However, there is a part of me that relates to the text above as I conclude my final hours in this city. Charleston has been for me the place of some incredible miracles and heartaches. Like Jesus, people in this city have both cheered me and jeered me. This may have been a city with an incredible, religious history, but I found it to be a city whose spiritual temperature did not live up to it’s moniker. Like Jerusalem of old, the Lord would like to send a visitation, but the veneer must be stripped away and the voice of the prophets must be heard. It was, for me, hard ground.

I think it might be good to say at this point as I conclude this season of ministry, that I am neither bitter nor offended by that reality. If I was able to stay out of jail, then I eclipsed Whitefield’s ministry in this city and that makes me smile. (Although some might say a jail sentence might actually be a badge of honor.) My greatest joys and heartaches will forever be seared into my psyche for a later book which I am believing will generate some much needed resource. So Charleston will forever be a part of my story, which in actuality is really HIS story. It was the Lord’s plan to send me to Charleston and labor here for a 22 year season. That season has now come to a close.

So first, I want to say to this city of paradoxes, thank you. Thanks for the important lessons you gave me in so many different areas. You were used by God to do some really important work in my life. Like Charles Dickens once said, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. If it had not been for you, O Charleston, I would not be the husband, father, or minister that I am today. I conclude my time in this city not because of any hardship or discouragement, but rather according to the Will of God and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I accomplished what God asked me to do by way of ministry. That is the only metric of success that matters. To leave too quickly or stay too long because it makes “sense” is an affront to Christ’s Lordship. I have a confidence that my steps are being ordered.

Secondly, I do believe that this city of Charleston is in the crosshairs of the Holy Spirit for a genuine awakening. The history of Charleston and the past prophetic declarations over this city lead me to believe that the heart of God would very much like to open up the windows of heaven and pour out a significant and sovereign revival. That being said, God has linked Himself to the prayers and the responses of His people. It’s the Lord who initiates such things, but it is His people who respond to that stirring. That response entails humility, repentance, transparency, honesty, authenticity, confession, and intercession (to name but a few).

Thirdly, I pray a blessing over all my pastoral colleagues called to labor in this city and region. You know better than anyone the challenges and dynamics of this city which purports to be “holy”. The Church of Charleston is a great mosaic of local churches in which each one has a unique assignment. A local church is an individualized expression of a mandate God has placed on that gathering. It is important because it comes from God. Yet at the same time the Church is called to be one. The Lord sees the city in Kingdom terms, not parochial agendas. I exhort my pastoral friends to find that expression of unity which the city can see and know that the Church is One. I cannot say that I always saw ministry in those terms. I had moments I was sucked into the 21st century vortex of believing my local church was the center of God’s work in a city. I was wrong in those moments. Age, pain, and spiritual warfare have a way of cleansing your perspective and tweaking your theology (in a good way).

Finally, to all the incredible friends (especially those who walked with us at Legacy Church) you have my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for all your love, loyalty, and longevity. Your faces will forever bring a smile to my face and warmth to my heart. I truly do believe that our paths will cross again in the future and we will have opportunities to remember, reflect, laugh and rejoice at what great things God has done in all our lives.

Until that time…

Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength…
And your neighbor as yourself…

And remember…
The best really is yet to come…