Protecting Sleeping Congregations

Twenty-five years ago, the need was "urgent." 

In an alarming number of our churches, it was even "desperate," at least according to one RCA leader.

"In many of our congregations," he declared, "the Spirit seems at best to be a peripheral presence.

"Pastors and people labor, and I mean labor, to maintain the forms of life.  But the spirit of life is absent.  Forms of worship are observed, necessary duties are performed, but they are dull and labored and lifeless...."

The Sleeping Congregation,  by William Hogarth, 1736 - author's collection

This outspoken RCA leader called for "the renewing power and presence of the Spirit."

"We should all open our lives to the working of the Holy Spirit" he urged, and we should
"use no defense, theological or otherwise, to protect ourselves against the working of the Holy Spirit."

Did you catch that?  

This guy had the audacity to suggest that some of us might actually be trying to protect ourselves and our churches from the "working of the Holy Spirit."

Protect ourselves... not from the world... not from the flesh... not from the devil.

From the HOLY SPIRIT!

I don't know if 2 Timothy 3:5 (having a form of godliness but denying its power) had just come up in the lectionary, or what.  Maybe this fellow had simply visited a few of the wrong churches on the wrong Sundays. 

Maybe he was a clueless charismatic with authority issues.  Maybe he didn't really know, value or love the RCA.  Who knows.  

We have to wonder, though, if back in 1983 there might have been a pinch of truth in what he preached. 

And if there was any truth in it then, might his challenge apply in any way to any of our churches today?

Is it possible that some of us have set up our Sunday liturgies, our lifestyles --even our theologies-- in ways that defend and protect us against anything startling that the Holy Spirit might want to do?

Sure it's possible.  That's human nature.  We naturally resist painful disruptions in routine.

My wife and I set up a family budget.  We want to be responsible; we want to pay down some debt.  We want a better future.  But when it comes to the actual patterns of our daily lives, change is brutal.

Who wants to give up any of the familiar patterns and predictable comforts that we've come to enjoy?  We need the Starbucks, we need the get-aways.  We need the pleasant stuff on the endless list.  Any changes in the way we live would really stress us out.

Besides, we're exhausted.  It's Monday morning all week, and we just want to shut off the alarm, roll over, and sneak another hour of sleep.

Some congregations are probably feeling the same way.

A few months ago our General Synod decided to appoint a task force to "explore the nature of a major worship initiative in the RCA."

Cool.  A task force and a major worship initiative sound pretty important.

I wonder, though, what sort of input the above quoted preacher might have if he was still around, if he was allowed to participate as a member of this newly forming task force.  I wonder if he would still be raising any of those same concerns from 25 years ago.

I'm sure the task force will talk about the presence and role of the Holy Spirit in RCA church services.  

But I wonder how long the task force will be scratching their heads trying to solve the problem of where to put the correct measure of this "Holy Spirit stuff" in the liturgy.

And I wonder if anyone on the team will have the nerve to declare:

"Our claim to being Reformed is not authenticated, it is betrayed by preserving the tradition untranslated." 

I imagine that most or all of our RCA churches take the Holy Spirit seriously, and that we all want to believe that we have sufficient times and places within our liturgies for the Holy Spirit to do...

... ANYTHING ... that is truly of God.

I'm not going to say otherwise.

But at the risk of redundancy:

"In many of our congregations, the Spirit seems at best to be a peripheral presence.  Pastors and people labor, and I mean labor, to maintain the forms of life.  But the spirit of life is absent."

Such are the mysteries of the Kingdom.

                                                   -- Dave Cheadle

pg 266 "Our need for the renewing power and presence of the Spirit of Jesus Christ is urgent.  In many places it is desperate.  In many of our congregations, the Spirit seems at best to be a peripheral presence...."

NOTE:  All of the above quotes come from Arie R. Brouwer, RCA General Secretary.
Occasion:  Brouwer's final sermon after six years as General Secretary, General Synod, Pella, IA, 1983

(Published Source: Ecumenical Testimony - The Historical Series of the RCA, 1991- #44, "The Lordship of Christ in the Reformed Church in America")

The Sleeping Congregation,  by William Hogarth, 1736 - author's collection

 Galatians 4:11 is the text above the woman's head in the above engraving:

"I am worried about you!  Can it be that all my work for you has been for nothing?"

Meanwhile, the preacher comforts his snoring flock with the words of Matt. 11:28

"Come to me all of you who are tired... and I will give you rest."

If you're not Dutch ... Skin-Deep Diversity?

The RCA likes to "celebrate diversity." Meanwhile, thousands are in a panic about the RCA losing its identity. Oops.... do the math.

Change means change. Deep change means new identity. No way around it.
Some of us claim that we like the idea of change -- even the concept of constantly "reforming."

But we really don't want deep change... just skin-deep change.

"Come in and join us," we plead. "But don't touch anything."

History of the Reformation, 1878 edition: "Burning Bibles in London...."

Yes, we'd like to add some color to our pews --- that way the world will know how loving and full of mercy we are. But don't mess with who we really are... our Dutch-American Reformed traditions, liturgies, polity, etc.

One example: Commissioned Pastors.

From the beginning, the body of Christ has flourished by means of lay leadership. We see this in the book of Acts ("The members of the Council were amazed to see how bold Peter and John were, and to learn that they were ordinary men of no eduction." Acts 4:13), and we see this continued throughout the history of discipleship and missions right up to the underground church in China today.

Yet we read in 2009 Synod documents of murmurings against the Commissioned Pastor movement. The fear, of course, is that leaders who have not been screened, enculturated and culled out by senior-ranking identity managers are a huge risk.

Which they are. The gatekeepers have it right. Commissioned Pastors are a very real threat to the identity of the RCA.

Hundreds of years ago, the Roman Catholic church freaked out about translations of the Bible. A Bible in English or Dutch, rather than Latin, could be read by ordinary folks who had not been properly screened, enculturated into the Church system and tested for institutional orthodoxy and loyalty.

The conservative institutional managers of the Roman church had it right; flames of Reformation were fueled by Bibles opened in the hands of ordinary people, and deep change followed.

Yes, of course, not all change is good.

For example, a new breed of leaders with a low view of scripture, minimal interest in social justice, a taste for passionless worship, and no interest in mission would be a horrible thing for the RCA. Such change would be bad for the RCA, and bad for the Kingdom.

If these are the sorts of leaders coming out of the RCA's Commissioned programs, then we have serious grounds for concern.

But if the problem is that Commissioned Pastors are bringing cultural change to the RCA, and we don't really want to loosen up on our Dutch-American Reformed traditions, liturgies, polity, etc., that's a different issue altogether.

It's still an issue, a big one, but it is a psycho-sociological identity issue, not a biblical one.

Much boasting throughout hundreds of years of RCA history has centered around our openness to ecumenical fellowship, both on mission fields and at home. In theory, we support and cooperate with conservative Presbyterians who refuse to ordain women, we pray with Baptists who dedicate children and refrain from infant sprinklings, and we break bread with Methodists who choke on TULIP.

Historically, our view of the Kingdom has long been broad and merciful enough to embrace many non-RCA traditions, liturgies, polities, etc., at least so long as they conform to basic biblical principles.

Perhaps, though, our own denominational identity is too sacred and too fragile to endure deep change... the deeper-than skin diversity of the broader Kingdom even as we theologically understand it to be.

Perhaps, deep down, it's still more about being Dutch-American Reformed than simply being about being sold-out dieing-to-ourselves followers of Jesus Christ.

Such are the mysteries of the Kingdom.

                                                   -- Dave Cheadle

Engraving below: "Tonstall Burning the Bibles in London," comes from

"History of the Reformation," published in 1878

Bishop Tonstall was determined to destroy every copy of Tyndale's "heretical" translation of the Bible. He hired people to locate and purchase the English translations just so he could burn them. The Catholic church became Tyndale's biggest client, purchasing early editions through Tyndale's friends at inflated prices, thus financing Tyndale's next edition!

The Cruel Joke of Pentecost... Today

Imagine General Synod, 2009. Mysteriously, prayer gets out of hand.

Hour after hour, late into the night, prayer goes on. Institutional agenda items are forgotten as hundreds of leaders and delegates from diverse backgrounds begin to sense that something is happening.

Nine o'clock AM, last day of General Synod, the doors blast open and out pour hundreds of RCA men and women... eyes blazing, hair flowing back as if straight from a Category Five hurricane.

Folks circle and weave, arms out and palms up... some with hands flailing above their heads. There is weeping, singing, and laughing amid an almost roar of voices and conviction.

Reporters leap into action.

Acts 2:1: "When the day of Pentecost came...." Antique engraving, 1650.

Impatient after days of waiting for edgy quotes about the RCA dialog on homosexuality, media professionals have finally got a story. Not what they expected, but something even more sensational, more juicy... more inflammatory. They go with it.

Sound bites about spiritual "fire" and quotes about "rushing wind" are eagerly recorded. Camera crews pan the college campus for impromptu sermons about sin, repentance, miracles, and "The Last Days. " Frothing religious fanaticism is burned onto network tape and beamed up to satellites in time for the evening news.

Within 24 hours, there's no going back. Lives are changed forever, and the RCA will never be the same.

Within months, follow-up stories recount church splits in Iowa and heresy trials in New York and California. Denominational lawsuits are filed against several congregations that have begun meeting in homes while attempting to sell church property in order to divvy up proceeds among the unemployed.

Pastors and elders have been purged from some communities and have taken to teaching and preaching in parks, sports complexes and shopping centers.

Restraining orders have been issued against many of the most outspoken. Credentials have been yanked, and a special theological commission has gone into emergency session to clarify the nature, times and parameters of Holy Spirit "baptism."

The CRC has pulled from the RCA "Faith Alive" resource partnership. Christianity Today has begun preparing a cover story, and CNN has assigned a crew to investigate how anything so dramatic could happen so quickly to such a respectable mainline denomination.

Lists of names begin appearing on blogs.

Jobs have been lost, families have begun to unravel, religious dialogs have started taking new turns....

Naw.

Wouldn't happen.

God would not have any part in such chaos.

Not today. Not in the RCA. Such a "Pentecost" would be nothing but a cruel joke... probably of the devil.

Besides, it's not needed. The Spirit has already come. We've already been baptized once and for all. Through our lectionary, confessions and creeds, Reformed teaching and preaching is already covering the full counsel of God. Our communities are pretty much missional, and we're well enough already.

Who needs another Pentecost, anyway?

Certainly NOT us. Maybe in Africa or something, but not here.

We'll let God decide.

If He really wants that sort of thing for us, He'll tell us, and then we'll know. Then we'll pray. Then we'll obey and start acting like radicals if we must.

Otherwise, the prudent thing is business as usual.

If God wants something else, He'll let us know.

Pentecost was then -- and this now.

Such are the mysteries of the Kingdom.

-- Dave Cheadle

The 17th century copper plate engraving, "I will pour out my spirit," comes from

"Visscher's Printed Bible," published in 1650

with text in Latin, French, English, German and Dutch.

Below are the English and Dutch rhymes as found on my original. Note: "f" can = "s."

"Full" Gospel Preaching: Demons & Spiritual Warfare

It's a perfect pick-up game for kids. No board, no dice, no props. Just an impromptu face-off loaded with strategy, action and clear-cut winners and losers. Dramatic consequences, even. And that dreaded line:

"Rock crushes scissors."

Kinda reminds me of a line in scripture: "God crushes Satan."

Well, to be a bit more precise: "The God of peace will soon crush Satan... under YOUR feet." (Romans 16:20, emphasis added)

But how important is this verse? Can we proclaim the "full" gospel without mentioning Satan? How relevant are the issues of demons, cosmic battles and spiritual warfare when engaging in mission?

Acts 16:18: "In the name of Jesus Christ I order you to come out of her!"

A couple days ago I opened a can of worms by mentioning "signs and wonders." I blogged about whether preaching the gospel in words alone -- without the reinforcement of signs and wonders -- was really a "full" proclamation of the Kingdom.

Today I want to push it a little further by bringing in the whole messy business of the role of "spiritual warfare" in the life of a missional church.

Paul, the author of Romans (and probably as good of a missional guy as you'll ever find) said this:

"I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done -- by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit.... I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ." (Romans 15: 18, 19, emphasis added)

The Greek word Paul uses here that is usually translated as "I have fully preached" or "I have fully proclaimed" is peplērōkenai.

This particular word is different than the words (kerusso, euaggelizo/"evangelize") that Paul frequently uses when speaking about missional preaching. Here, he's speaking about something bigger and more holistic. This word is not just about sermons. It means to complete, to fulfill, to totally accomplish. We're talking here about bringing in the Kingdom with both words AND deeds.

Or, as some might say today, to "git 'er done!"

Paul is the same guy who cautioned us that "our struggle is not against human opponents, but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers in the darkness around us, and evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm." (Ephesians 6:12)

And then in the next verse, Paul launches into some pretty practical tips for conflict management for when dealing with the devil: "put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day."

Scissors-Paper-Rock is only fun until somebody gets mean about it. Like that bully who used to jump into our lunchhour games totally uninvited.

"Rock crushes scissors."

Ouch.

John Calvin, in his commentary on Romans 16:20, says: "He (Paul) indeed exhorts them to fight manfully against Satan, and promises that they should shortly be victorious."

And in reference to the Ephesians 6 passage, Calvin observes:
"Satan is called the god and ruler of this world, the strong man armed, the prince of the power of the air, the roaring lion....
Being forewarned of the constant presence of an enemy... (who is) equipped with all the engines, and the most expert in the science of war,
let us not allow ourselves to be overtaken by sloth or cowardice...
let us stand ready to resist...
let us study to persevere." (Institutes, I, XIV, 13, emphasis mine)

More on this whole business of standing to resist and studying to persevere in a future blog.

In the meantime, we proclaim the message of our Lord with all the power that God has given, knowing that our sworn enemy will protect what's "his" and will play hard and mean if he can get away with it.

But the missional church need not be intimidated.

When the dust settles, Satan and his minions will know for sure that Our Rock crushes.

And, somehow, the devils will be under our feet.

Such are the mysteries of the Kingdom.

-- Dave Cheadle

FYI: This Acts 16 image, "The Pythoness," comes from Vol. 2 of:

"Scripture Narratives for the Young," published in 1888.

"Full" Gospel Preaching: Words, Signs, and Wonders

Slap me upside the head, but I recently slipped and spoke about preaching the "full" gospel.

Yes, I know, "Full Gospel" folks are self-righteous, holier-than-thou anti-intellectuals, and we Reformed types don't want anything to do with that kinda nonsense.

Acts 2: "When the Day of Pentecost came.... Peter stood up: 'This is what the prophet Joel spoke about.... What you now see and hear is his gift that he has poured out on us.'"

So, when I carelessly suggested that "the most effective missional churches of the future will be those that embrace and preach the full gospel," I was appropriately and immediately corrected.

We need to be careful. I need to be careful.

Preaching the "full" gospel sounds an awful lot like "The Full Gospel" we'd hear from God-TV, and we good Reformed folks certainly don't want any part of that kinda nonsense, either.

But here's the thing... Peter's first sermon was filled with references to supernatural stuff. The stuff that most Reformed people squirm about.

Many of us are pretty comfortable "doing mission" as a series of classes -- installments of philosophical indoctrination -- with a few Good Works and "Be Nice" lessons thrown in to make it all agreeable to even the most resolute of reprobates.

Dr. Timothy Brown, President of Western Theological Seminary, just published a great piece in the most recent rcatoday. I loved his title, "Oh My! We've Got to Do Something about That!" Dr. Brown's "Oh My!" shock comes from statistics suggesting that Christianity is suffering a dramatic decline in America. (Okay, so most of us in the RCA already suspected as much from our own denominational reports. But Dr. Brown had some even bigger numbers.)

"Even more stunning," says Dr. Brown (and I think this was his real point), "if the statistical sampling holds true, 46 million Americans identify themselves as having absolutely no connection to God whatsoever!"

I love Dr. Brown's essay. It's worth quoting a bit more:
"The Christian church does not make up the story of who we are. We have a story, our story, the one that will change this abysmal statistic." He then references "the story of Pentecost, the rushing wind, the tongues of fire...."

Okay, so 46 million Americans don't take God seriously. And Peter baptized 3,000 people in one day. How do we get from America today to scenes like we read in the book of Acts?

No brainer. Pentecost. Read the Book.

God says: "I will pour out my Spirit on everyone.... Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your young men will see visions, your old men will have dreams. Yes, even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit...."
"I will perform miracles...."

Peter says: "Jesus of Nazareth was a man whose divine authority was clearly proven to you by all the miracles and wonders which God performed through him. You yourselves know this, for it happened here among you."

Peter adds: "What you now see and hear is his gift that he has poured out on us."
After Pentecost, the story continues: "Many miracles and wonders were being done through the apostles, and everyone was filled with awe."

The masses were moved from indifference to "...filled with awe."  Followed by repentance, conversion, baptism, transformation, discipleship, sanctification....

But starting with: "awe."

Not as in, "Awe, shucks."  But as in: "Oh... my God!"

Our Reformed confessions, creeds, pastors, seminaries, and even Sunday School teachers all teach us that the gospel is to be proclaimed in Word and Deeds.

By "Deeds," we of course mean an externally focused church that behaves very nicely and loves people via charity and all kinds of kindly acts of service.

By "Deeds," we don't necessarily rule out signs and wonders -- miracles, healings, and deliverance.

But we just don't go there.

Jesus told Peter and the others to wait. He basically said, "Hold onto your Words and Deeds until I say you're ready. Until you've been powered up. In the meantime... pray."

Great, many of us are eager to proclaim the gospel. "Powered up," or not. After days and days of waiting and praying... or not.

So let's just do it.

But then, let's not be surprised when the 46 million folks who don't take God seriously don't take our God story seriously, either.

The success of the churches of Acts was rooted in a Spirit-powered full gospel proclamation, including Words, Signs, and Wonders. Take away the Signs and Wonders, and let's not be shocked.

Let's not be shocked to discover, as Dr. Brown puts it, that "while the American population has swelled 50 million since 1990, the church of Jesus Christ has shrunk."

Such are the mysteries of the Kingdom.

-- Dave Cheadle

FYI: This print, "Day of Pentecost," comes from page 390 of a 19th century edition of:

"The Complete Bible Gallery," by the famous illustrator Gustave Doré.