Personal Insight

I was born-again in February of 1978 and with only a few months under my belt as a Christian believer I can remember with vivid detail the global news of the mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana, perpetrated by the master deceiver, Jim Jones. I remember my pastor’s remarks in his message that following Sunday with regards to the mass suicide and there being introduced for the first time to the concept of “cult”. In my mind, Jim Jones and the demonic debacle of Jonestown would forever be the picture and definition of a cult. Perhaps that national trauma is one of the reasons I am so sensitized to the use of the word, “cult”. To call something a cult is, in my mind, analogous to labeling a church, The People’s Temple, and its leader, Jim Jones.

My spiritual journey began at what most refer to as a “mainline, liturgical, denominational” church. There were certain things you could count on (right or wrong) if one attended there. The entire worship service would be one hour and it would start and end “on time”. I can’t ever remember a lesson, sermon, or announcement made about being in your seat when the service began, but I can tell you that our household and just about everyone else’s household who attended that church were in their seats at least 5 minutes before the choir entered and the first note was played. It was the culture of that church and denomination for everyone to be ready when the service officially started. Candidly, it was almost unthinkable to be late for church. In fact, if you were late, ushers would hold you at the back door until an appropriate, designated time arrived where late-comers could be seated and even then you were ushered to a designated area in order to minimize any potential distractions. My parents would have been mortified to have been chronically late. I suppose the special times and seating sections underscored the lesson that this church culture was “be on time”.

“Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.” ~ 2 Timothy 4:14-15

Somewhere along the way in my decades of pastoring I embraced an unwritten code or unspoken rule that if I became the target of illegitimate criticism, mischaracterizations, lies, or slander, that the expectation would be that I would keep my mouth shut about that scurrilous person disseminating such things and simply endure the slopping of my character. I’m not sure what class that was in seminary which taught the principle, but I know numbers of other pastors have embraced that unspoken rule as well. When you are attacked, so the rule states, pray about it, smile, speak well of the person slandering you, and let the Lord shake it all out. Just act like it isn’t happening. Rise above the reproach. It doesn’t matter if people who look to you for spiritual guidance and help are only hearing one side of the story (theirs), you must not dignify the attack with any response.

Hmmm…

Apparently Paul missed that class in his training…

This year is the 30th anniversary of my departure from the Church of the Nazarene. Allow me to say quickly, this blog will not be a “hit” piece on my former denomination. In fact, if you will take the time to read the entire blog you may find it to be far more affirming than the title might first suggest. Thirty years is a lengthy span of time to reflect and reminisce about a group that had a profound influence upon my beliefs, my ministry, and my eternity. Distance and time has a way of clarifying things that are often initially clouded when a relationship fissure takes place. In other words, I am probably now in a better place and state to accurately evaluate those years I associated and ministered as a Nazarene.

“And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “ As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.” 2 Kings 2:1-2

I was recently reading a well-intentioned but generally immature article concerning the nature and responsibilities of “spiritual fathers” to “spiritual sons”. It was apparent to me from reading the article that the writer felt disappointed or “used” from this relationship and ostensibly laid the lion’s share of responsibility upon the father(s) for that disappointment. For those that have never heard these terms they are used to define a unique relationship. A spiritual father is basically the biblical term for “mentor”. Conversely, a “spiritual” son or daughter would be likened to a “protégé” or one who may be groomed to do a work similar to the mentor. The relationship is somewhat analogous to that of an earthly parent to child, with the obvious caveats that the relationship is not based on biological DNA or “blood”, but rather a voluntary spiritual connection between the two participants. I want to emphasize the word “voluntary”. When it comes to mentors and protégés, this is never a forced arrangement. It was pointed out in this article that Paul referenced Timothy as a “true son” in the faith (I Timothy 1:2), which illustrates this usage and concept. It also illustrates that if there are “true sons”, there might also be false ones.