A Debilitating Disease within the Body of Christ
Has this generation of Christians lost the meaning to the word "holy"? It often appears it has to the casual observer. Just within my lifetime, and I'm not very old, the church has drastically moved away from any attempt at holy living, from being separate and distinct from the world around us. The reasons are many, but I believe the root issue is that most American Christians simply don't identify with the necessity to be a holy people.The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines the word holy:
Biblical use of the term “holy” has to do primarily with God’s separating from the world that which He chooses to devote to Himself. As God’s redemptive plan unfolded through the OT, the “holy” became associated with the character of God’s separated people conforming to His revealed law. When the time became ripe for the saving work of Jesus Christ, His redeemed people came to be known as saints (literally, “holy ones”). The cross made this possible by inaugurating the fulfillment of the preparatory OT teachings on the holy, opening the way for God’s Holy Spirit to indwell His people. [Cabal Ted, “Holy,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 772.]
Holman goes on to note that holiness is not an option for God's people, but an ethical mandate:
God’s chosen people, in separation from the world, are called to an ethical life in conformity to His revealed word. The command to His people is to “be holy; for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44–45; cp. 19:2; 20:26). This demand is not abrogated with the coming of Christ but is to find its fulfillment in the Christian community (1 Cor. 7:34; Eph. 1:4; Col. 1:22; 1 Pet. 1:16). Christians are to perfect “holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1 NASB). If necessary, God will discipline the followers of Christ for their own good so they “can share His holiness” (Heb. 12:10 HCSB). [Cabal Ted, “Holy,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 773.]
Unfortunately, holiness and separation are foreign topics within today's church. One would be hard pressed to find substantial areas of difference or distinctiveness between the world and the Christian. Too many of us are satisfied with an intellectual knowledge of God and His Word, yet too inconvenienced to put into action the teachings of His Word.
In his commentary on the Epistle of James, Charles Swindoll identifies the lack of distinction as a "crippling disease" within the Church:
A debilitating “disease” is crippling the body of Christ—a syndrome so common that it seems to affect every believer with either a mild or acute case. This insidious condition neutralizes the church’s impact and nullifies her testimony. It can diminish effectiveness and paralyze production. The problem? A rupture between confession and deed … theology and action … hearing and doing. For too many of us Christians, God’s Word fails to make it from the head to the heart. And for many more, His Word gets lodged between the heart and the hands.
A. W. Tozer vividly portrays the situation:
So wide is the gulf that separates theory from practice in the church that an inquiring stranger who chances upon both would scarcely dream that there was any relation between them. An intelligent observer of our human scene who heard the Sunday morning sermon and later watched the Sunday afternoon conduct of those who had heard it would conclude that he has been examining two distinct and contrary religions.…
It appears that too many Christians want to enjoy the thrill of feeling right but are not willing to endure the inconvenience of being right. So the divorce between theory and practice becomes permanent in fact, though in word the union is declared to be eternal. Truth sits forsaken and grieves till her professed followers come home for a brief visit, but she sees them depart again when the bills become due.
Is there coming a time in the not too distant future when Pastors will need to be more concerned about transformed lives than the size of their Sunday crowd? We've spent the last 40 years learning how to attract a lot of people with whiz-bang worship and feel-good talks. When was the last time you went to a pastors gathering and each one shared about the testimony of transformed lives within their church rather than their attendance numbers and weekly offerings?
The test of a gospel-centered church is the evidence of transformed lives--men and women, teens and children who are working out their salvation in obedience to the Word of God. Next time you are curious to know how your church is succeeding at the great commission, don't count your crowd, open the microphone for a time of testimony.
"How is God working in your life?"
It's a simple question. If you are met with silence... what does that tell you?
It will not take much persecution for most "Christians" to fade into the background. I'm not talking about the threat of imprisonment or the loss of life. Rather, I believe persecution in America will be more economic and social. American culture is not wanting to destroy the church outright, just silence it and marginalize it. Unfortunately, too many "Christians" will readily comply.
Let us strive for holiness within our people. May the fruit of our labor be a group of transformed lives, not a large crowd of worldly unbelievers.
Do you struggle to teach the Word of God unashamedly? Do you fear your church will consider you "old school" and legalistic? This is pride, my friend. May we stand with the Apostle Paul and encourage our church family as he encouraged us, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)
"The People Did What Was Right in Their Own Eyes"
In the Old Testament book of Judges, we see a phrase oft repeated, and "the people did what was right in their own eyes." This phrase is a sign of a society or nation sliding into moral decay. They no longer acknowledge God or His law, but instead simply make their own determination of what is right and what is wrong.Christians find themselves facing increasingly difficult decisions as they weigh the choices between staying obedient to God's Word and their own conscience and being obedient to the government and the civil laws of the land. This conflict is the focus of the world right now as everyone watches a county clerk in Rowen, KY live out her Christian convictions verses her civil responsibility as a representative of the state.Albert Mohler provides an excellent commentary on the difficult decisions Christians face in our culture today as he examines what is happening in Kentucky. Here are some bullet points from his article:
- In court today, Judge Bunning told Davis: “The court cannot condone the willful disobedience of its lawfully issued order.” He continued by arguing that “if you give people the opportunity to choose which orders they follow, that’s what potentially causes problems.”
- This story, now far larger than would have been imagined just a few weeks ago, points to some of the hardest questions faced by Christians who are determined to be faithful to Christ and to fulfill their responsibilities as citizens. Many of these questions defy a simplistic answer. How are Christians who hold elective office to fulfill that office when the nation’s highest court or those holding higher office rule and legislate contrary to Christian conviction? The same question is quickly extended to those serving in the military, holding appointive office, or even merely working for the government.
- The Bible is clear — a Christian cannot act in violation of conscience without committing sin. Kim Davis has been clear, even as her own marital background has been discussed, that her conversion and Christian beliefs do not allow her to sanction what the Bible declares to be sin.
- The Bible clearly commands that Christians respect the rightful authority of civil governments, understanding that the institution of human government is itself a part of God’s design. At the same time, the rightful power of government is not absolute. The Apostle Paul tells us to obey the government but Daniel and his friends were right to refuse to bow the knee to King Nebuchadnezzar. When is the Christian to obey and when must the Christian not obey government?
- It is very revealing that many of those who are celebrating Judge Bunning’s decision to send Kim Davis to jail and who are now asserting their absolute commitment to the rule of law are the very same people who made the opposite argument when it served their purposes. That argument, taken at face value, would have meant no civil rights movement — and no gay rights movement.
- What this story reveals beyond the headlines is that the moral revolution on marriage and human sexuality will leave nothing as it was before. No area of life will be untouched, and no address will be far removed from the front lines of the revolution. This story comes from Rowan County, Kentucky. A County Clerk is headed for jail. A legion of Christians struggles to be faithful in their own situations, responsibilities, and callings.
I believe the most revealing quote from Mohler's article is the statement by Federal Judge David L. Bunning who states, "The court cannot condone the willful disobedience of its lawfully issued order.... If you give people the opportunity to choose which orders they follow, that’s what potentially causes problems.”This is the problem with "American Justice" today. Each one can do what is right in his or her own eyes. We jail a county clerk for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, yet two years ago President Obama was praised for ordering the Justice Department to no longer enforce the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) because the president believed it to be an unconstitutional law. The New York Times noted the constitutional conflict created by the president's action:
When President Obama decided that his administration would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court, he was presented with an obvious question with a less obvious answer: Would he keep enforcing a law he now deemed unconstitutional?
A debate in the White House broke out. Some of his political advisers thought it made no sense to apply an invalid law. But his lawyers told Mr. Obama he had a constitutional duty to comply until the Supreme Court ruled otherwise. Providing federal benefits to same-sex couples in defiance of the law, they argued, would provoke a furor in the Republican House and theoretically even risk articles of impeachment.
Two years later, that decision has taken on new prominence after Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. accused Mr. Obama from the bench on Wednesday of not having “the courage of his convictions” for continuing to enforce the marriage law even after concluding that it violated constitutional equal protection guarantees. The chief justice’s needling touched a raw nerve at the White House. “Continuing to enforce was a difficult political decision,” said an aide who asked not to be identified discussing internal deliberations, “but the president felt like it was the right legal choice.”
When President Obama came across a law he didn't believe he could enforce because of personal convictions, he simply made the decision to no longer enforce the law, yet when the same decision confronts Kim Davis, she is jailed for failure to carry out the stated law of the land.
I wonder what Judge Bunning would say to President Obama? If he has integrity, he would have to say, "Mr. Obama, the court cannot condone the willful disobedience of its lawfully issued order.... If you give people the opportunity to choose which orders they follow, that’s what potentially causes problems."
Communicating Difficult News to Your Church, Part 2
In Part 1 of this series, we looked at how Miles McPherson responded to some difficult news involving the Christian school associated with The Rock Church in San Diego, CA.
In Part 2, we are going to examine how ABWE, a mission agency in Pennsylvania responded to a growing crisis involving their response to accusations of child abuse by on of their missionaries.
In a nutshell, allegations of abuse first surfaced against missionary Donn Ketcham in July 1989. (Ketcham is a medical doctor who served in Bangladesh as an ABWE missionary from 1963-1989.) A 14-year old girl revealed to her pastor that she had been abused by Ketcham. After some initial investigation, the abuser (Ketcham) confessed to the crime and was sent home from the field by ABWE. In communicating about the incident to Ketcham's supporting church, no mention was made of the sexual abuse, simply that he has left the field after confessing a sin to his sending church's pastor. Moreover, the 14-year old girl was coerced into signing a confession of her own guilt in the adulterous affair!
Fast forward 12 years, and the young girls abused on the field by Ketcham are now young women, and they again approach ABWE leadership about the crimes Ketcham committed while on the field. Of even greater concern is that by keeping the matter silent in order to avoid bad publicity, ABWE in essence allowed Ketcham to return to the States and begin practicing medicine again.
Upon hearing the news of Ketcham's crimes, ABWE president, Michael Loftis, agreed to investigate. That was in 2002. Nothing happened until November 2009-10, when the victims mounted a coordinated effort to force ABWE into acknowledging the crimes Ketcham confessed to in 1989 and to deal with the problem.
Finally, realizing that ABWE was not going to publicly acknowledge the crimes of Donn Ketcham or their own roles in bungling the investigation, the victims put up a website detailing their accusations of abuse, their evidence, their communications with ABWE, and the lack of response from ABWE.
Michael Loftis and ABWE Respond
In April 2011, one month after the website went live, Michael Loftis responded with an email to ABWE supporting churches.
Dear Pastor, church member and friend,
I write to you today with a heavy heart. Our mission is estranged from some of our own family members, former Missionary Kids (MKs), and we long to be reconciled to them. I am writing to ask you to pray. Please pray that these MKs will experience healing in areas where currently there is only hurt and disappointment; that God will open the pathways of honest communication; that He will lead us to reconciliation; and that we will have wisdom and humility as we seek this reconciliation.
This estrangement has its roots in the sinful actions of Dr. Donn Ketcham, a former ABWE missionary who molested some of these women when they were children living with their missionary parents in Bangladesh. These women have also been hurt by ABWE’s response to that molestation back in 1989 and in subsequent years. We have discovered much about their pain and anger regarding these circumstances through a blog they recently created.
At the center of the grievances identified on the blog is a claim that ABWE has intentionally and knowingly perpetrated a cover-up of Dr. Ketcham’s crimes. I do not believe that charge is true. However, I do feel that the facts must be established by an independent investigation.
I have asked the ABWE Board to identify an organization, independent of both ABWE and the MKs, which has expertise in investigating child abuse. It is my hope that an investigative organization will be appointed and announced next week by our Board. I hope and pray that this investigation will find the truth; and based on that solid foundation, we will be able to seek reconciliation with these beloved MKs.
Thank you for being a faithful supporter of ABWE missionaries. In addition to your prayers, I also request your patience. I ask for prudence in judging our actions or motives—as I believe an investigation will bring clarity to this situation. We await the final report, so we can respond to the findings with appropriate actions. I ask for your grace as we also attempt to respond lovingly today, tomorrow, and until we have reconciled with our family. Please believe it is our heart’s cry when we say that our greatest concern is to help these MKs.
Under the guidance and in the spirit of Hebrews 10:19-24 we are trusting God to lead us through this time of trouble in a way that brings glory to His name and help to His people. Thank you for your prayers and support of our entire ABWE family.
Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.
Grateful for your partnership in the gospel,
Michael G. Loftis
President
ABWE International, Inc.
PS: Please visit the ABWE website www.abwe.org for updates on this situation. If you have a specific question, please contact Dr. Tony Beckett, our Vice-President for Church Relations.
What do we learn about communicating difficult situations from this email:
The email begins by acknowledging the victims (good), but then proceeds to place blame on the victims who are "estranged" and do not seek reconciliation.
Loftis leads readers to believe that ABWE was unaware of any pain on the part of the victims until their blog appeared in March 2011, less than a month prior to this email.
No where does ABWE acknowledge any wrong-doing in their almost 25-year involvement with both Ketcham and the victims following the 1989 accusation and confession.
The email is flowing with flowering requests for prayer and petitions for healing, yet no where does the email speak with of ABWE's efforts to provide help or counseling to the victims and their families.
ABWE Board Chairman Communicates Dismissal of Loftis
Two months after sending this email, Michael Loftis was asked to resign as president of ABWE. Here is how this news was communicated to supporters:
Dear ABWE Family,
We are writing to you today to let you know that Dr. Michael Loftis has concluded his role as president of ABWE as of June 7, 2011.
The Board of ABWE Ministries, Inc. wishes to express our appreciation to Dr. Loftis and his wife, Jo Beth, for their 13 years as missionaries in Eastern Europe and 10 years in leading our mission, for their unquestioned moral and financial integrity, giftedness, and great passion for the cause of Christ worldwide.
In view of the present needs of the mission and after lengthy prayer and deliberation by the board and interviews with ABWE leadership, the board unanimously decided it would be best to seek a new president. We want to assure you that these decisions were not spontaneous or rushed. They were made after much prayer, deep discussion, careful analysis and a unanimous conclusion that was affirmed by Dr. Loftis, with full support and confidence in the board. These decisions have been some of the most difficult we have faced as a board. The response of Dr. Loftis has been Christ-like, humble, and affirming. We are all confident that God has led us in this decision.
Dr. Al Cockrell has stepped down from the ABWE board and has been appointed the Interim Executive Administrator of ABWE. The board is presently assembling a Strategic Transition Team to assess the needs of the administration, formulate a presidential profile, and initiate a search process for a new president. We anticipate that the process to find our next president could take 18 months, or longer.
We would request your continued, fervent prayers for Michael and Jo Beth, the extended Loftis family, the worldwide ABWE family, the board and the administration as we seek God’s leading and guidance in the days ahead. With deepest gratitude for you and your continual investment in the life and work of Christ through ABWE.
Your servant in Christ,
Ron Berrus
Chair, ABWE Ministries, Inc.
(717) 614-5118
From the ABWE board chairman, this email covers all the legal basis, yet really doesn't acknowledge anything beyond the fact that the board has asked Loftis to step down.
Here are the important conclusions I draw from the ABWE experience:
Communicating difficult news is never easy, but trying to avoid communications invites disaster. No matter how bad the news is, an organization needs to recognize its responsibility to communicate to their constituency and the public in a timely and forthright manner.
While cooperating with law enforcement may take the ball out of a church's court, it is the right thing to do. ABWE could have weathered the storm in 1989 if they had reported Ketcham to law enforcement and let law enforcement do their job.
Communicating difficult news that involves many moving stories and people requires careful coordination. The organization needs to appoint one voice during the crisis and let that person handle all communication on behalf of the organization.
Recognize the power of the Internet and social media. While ABWE may have kept a lid on this 10 or 15 years ago, it is almost impossible in this day of easy access to information technology. It wasn't the concern for the victims that forced ABWE to go public, it was the blog with its documented history of the event.
Don't -- repeat do not -- minimize the pain and agony of the victims in order to cover your own tail What has happened to these families is of no fault of their own. They are not to blame. It is not their responsibility to seek reconciliation and forgiveness. If they do, great, but don't spiritualize the situation by making it sound like they are resisting God by failing to "work through proper channels."
Sadly, if you perform a Google search on the letters ABWE, the search results are not about all of the wonderful missionaries and ministries ABWE has supported over the past decades, but instead it is filled with sites describing the scandal and the abuse by ABWE Missionary, etc. What could have been avoided in 1989 has now become the legacy of this organization for a generation or more.
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Communicating Difficult News to Your Church, Part 1
Communicating difficult news to a church family is never an easy task. If the news involves a staff member, the task often falls to the senior pastor. If the news involves the senior pastor, the task often falls to a board member.
Recently, I had the opportunity to compare two events and the communications sent informing constituents of some troubling news. Both offer some insight into communicating difficult news.
The first is from Miles McPherson, pastor of The Rock Church in San Diego, CA. Here is his email:
Rock Family,
In recent days, you may have heard of an unfortunate and deeply troubling classroom situation that occurred at the Rock Academy some time ago involving a former teacher. It’s a sensitive story because it impacts children, parents, teachers and others who have devoted themselves to family and Christian principles.
Because of the on-going investigation and the request for privacy by those involved, we have been unable to discuss this publicly, but with the media coverage we felt it necessary to communicate at this time.
In February 2010, there was a report of a breach of Academy protocols by one of the school's teachers. Our Church team confirmed the report and the teacher was fired that day. Our Church team also followed our legal requirements to immediately forward the information that resulted in the termination to the San Diego Police Department so they could investigate. That police investigation was ultimately closed in April 2010 because there were no findings of criminal misconduct. As a result, nothing more could be said other than the communication that went out indicating he was no longer with the Academy.
Two years after the teacher’s firing, when new allegations were received of inappropriate physical contact at the time the teacher was employed at the Academy, the Church immediately forwarded that information to police to further their investigation. The status of the police investigation is unknown, but the Church will continue to cooperate fully as we have since the beginning of this unfortunate situation.
I should note that it is the police department's role and responsibility to investigate these claims. The law expressly directs organizations like the Academy and the Church not to interfere with these investigations, and we have not.
For the families who have been directly impacted by this teacher's actions, we have attempted to provide them with professional care and support and will continue to do so.
I do want to assure you that the Rock Academy and the Church are taking all actions necessary to provide a safe environment for the children who attend the school, and we are undertaking a thorough review of our hiring practices and classroom safety protocols to make sure they continue to be the strongest possible. Unfortunately, the best possible practices cannot always prevent unforeseeable individual behavior.
As with any challenge facing our Church, and in this case, the Academy, we trust in the God of all comfort to get us through it (II Corinthians 1:3C4).
Again, because of the ongoing investigation, out of respect for the privacy of those involved, and our deep desire for healing, we cannot comment further and we ask everyone to simply pray for the families and our Church and ask for God’s help during this difficult time.
If you have any comments, questions, concerns or information you would like to communicate, please contact Treena Meyers at 619.226.7625 or [email protected].
Miles McPherson
Here are some lessons we can learn from this email:
The email acknowledges the obvious--the congregation has heard some "unfortunate and deeply troubling" news about the school associated with the church. Right up front, McPherson acknowledges this as fact.
The email explains why the church has remained silent for so long about the issue. They are not hiding anything, but there has been an on-going criminal investigation.
The email provides a brief description of what happened and offers evidence of how the church responded to the incident (firing the teacher) and how they cooperated with law enforcement.
The email acknowledges that new allegations have arisen, which brings the issue to the surface again. I believe this is important simply because in many cases involving inappropriate contact with a minor, there are often additional victims that remain silent.
The email acknowledges the victims and offers evidence that they have received professional help. Too often in a situation like this, the victim is projected as a part of the problem, especially in church-run ministries.
The email concludes with a restatement of the church's continuing efforts to provide a safe environment for children in their care, and that they, again, are providing help for the victims and are cooperating with law enforcement.
I believe this email serves as a good example of how a church should respond in communicating difficult news to its congregation.
In Part 2 of these two-part series, we will examine the communication failures of ABWE in dealing with an explosive situation involving one of their career missionaries.
The Top 200 Church Blogs
Interested in who some of the most popular and influential voices are within the Christian blogosphere? Kent Shaffer (twitter) over at Church Relevance has posted the top 200 Christian bloggers as of April 9, 2012. Using site stats from Alexa, Google Page Rank, Google Reader Stats, and more, the list has a diverse collection of bloggers, from Al Mohler to Don Miller to Brian McLaren.
You can see if your favorite blogger is on the list here. Are there voices that you think should be on the list that are not?