It is absolutely amazing what a week away with your wife can do for you. Gretchen and I enjoyed a marvelous week in Colorado hanging with old friends, running into a boat load of old youth group kids who are all adults with families now, skiing, and enjoying serendipitous reunions. God is good and it is nice to be back. So on with the ramblings….
A Lack of Oxygen
So a funny moment of our week in Colorado came when we got to the cabin we were staying in outside of Fairplay. The cabin is tucked back in the woods and offers remarkable views. However, we were told by our friends who lent it to us that unfortunately their snow plow guy who plowed their driveway quit on them, so we would have to hike up the driveway to the cabin.
We thought, no big deal, just a little walk. Unfortunately the driveway had over a foot of snow on it, was at a steep incline and happens to lead to a house that is almost 11,000 feet above sea level. I grabbed two suitcases, made my way to the top of the driveway, walked in the front door of the cabin and collapsed. We both thought we were going to die. I have never lacked for oxygen quite like that before.
It got me to thinking about the overwhelming beginnings we experience in our lives. Becoming a Christian, going into ministry, getting married, starting life somewhere new, all of these experiences can feel just like that walk up the driveway. There is just nothing to prepare you for the task other than living there and doing it regularly. I am glad ministry doesn feel like that anymore, I seem to have adjusted to the low oxygen levels. But there are times when something happens to take your breath away and it can take a while to adjust. if you are suffering from a lack of oxygen be patient, take it slow and remember to breathe.
So long Jimmy, well kind of
It was interesting to be staying down the street from the Focus on the Family headquarters that day that it was announced Dr. James Dobson is stepping down of the board for Focus. He will stay on as the host of his radio show and continue to do ministry, but there is probably a ticking window for the public part of his life.
There is an entire generation of Christian leaders that are leaving the public eye or passing on and it leaves me wondering what they will be remembered for? Will someone like Dr. Dobson who has had an unbelievable impact on families, ministries, and even politics be remembered fondly by the next generation? There is no doubt he has influenced so many lives and done great service to the kingdom, but the era of the Christian right and its very public leadership is ending and this seems like a huge blessing for the church.
The problem with so much publicity and power is that the mission of the church is easily lost and overlooked by those in and out of the church. Dr. Dobson’s political views and use of his influence have brought his mission into question for many in the church. It is easy to overlook the great things he has done through his ministries when all we hear about are the politics and power struggles.
I am hopeful the next generation of influencers for the North American church will intentionally keep a lower profile and resist the pull of power and influence. The church is ill suited to use those things well.
Lenten Thoughts
Each week during Lent I will be offering a series of reflections via video blog. I am hosting the video on my church website. If you want to check it out go here.
March 5, 2009 at 9:42 am
Greg,
I think we might be on the same page, we might not. But I think we as leaders in the church can have that lower profile and still be influential in the realm of significant issues. Though, I’m not quite sure that is possible. The problem though is are you serving power or serving Christ.
I honestly believe one can serve Christ in the realm of politics. Yes, it is increasingly difficult, but I believe good can come to the kingdom by seeking the best for the least of these through government and through local action.
I honestly do not see much difference in James Dobson than I do in Martin Luther King, Jr. Both used their positions in the church to seek change whether it be in civil rights or family issues. There is no arguing that. The problem for Dobson is that he too closely aligned himself with the conservative right and the Republicans in power and out of power. But, there are just as many on the Christian left that align themselves closely with the Democratic party.
The key for the future of the North American church and the church at large is to remember whom it is that we are serving. Is it the government that lives in Washington or is the Father in Heaven? I would hope that we are serving the Father in Heaven, but often times I do not think that is the case.
March 5, 2009 at 10:47 am
Shannon,
We are on the same page as far as the possibility of honoring God as a politician. There are certainly some really wonderful Christians at work in politics not just in our country but around the world.
The profile isn’t the issue for me, so much, as the use of the profile. Dobson didn’t earn his respect as a politician, he did so as a Family Counselor. Those are very different realms. But he uses his influence from his ministry to assert influence in politics and many different theological areas that aren’t necessarily his ministry, education, or gifting. That is where the lines blur, when our celebrity and profile becomes a platform that we use for things outside of our calling and gifting.
That is where any comparison to Dr. MLK Jr. ends. Dr. King was first and foremost a pastor. He was actually a gifted theologian as well. But he left his pastorate and engaged in the civil rights movement as his full time focus. He sought attention and a public profile only to further the civil rights movement. There was certainly a personal stake in that, but it wasn’t about personal politics.
March 5, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Greg,
(It’s Shannon, just at work so can’t really log in.) I’m going to agree in part and disagree in part. I think you corrected what I was saying about Martin Luther King, however that is essentially what I was trying to say. MLK had a mission and he did it well. We need more people like MLK today.
However, I’m not sure we can really know Dobson’s heart as to why he got into the realms that he did. Nor can I about Rick Warren, a favorite target of mine as I have said in class “I want to be Rick Warren without being Rick Warren.” That’s between Dobson and God what his motivations were for doing what he did. Did it help Christianity in North America? No. That’s for sure. However, I’m not so sure if the problem was with Dobson as it was the courting of evangelicals by the Republican Party in 2000, 2004, and somewhat in 2008. Perhaps there is blame to go around for everyone.
As a next generation leader, I don’t want to fall into the same mistakes. Yet, I realize there is more for me, and what I believe my ministry is, than the church setting. I realize there is a balance and whatever I do I do with the hope to serve God faithfully and honestly. If I had any other motivations for serving than that I would not be in a faithful relationship with God, I would feel as though I am lying to my congregation, to myself, and to my friends. And I am pretty sure you would come find me and give me a talk that I would greatly need.
Peace,
Shannon