Unity In Christ

I haven't written in a long time. You might say I've been hibernating for the wint... ummm... summer. Anyhow, I don't know if Josh intended to wake me from my slumber by posting his comment on my blog, but that's exactly what he did. If you haven't been to the link Josh put in the comments of my last post, please go there and then read this. This won't make much sense if you don't.

I don't know the guys on "Way of the Master" from Adam, so I could care less what their opinions are. What I do care about is that they are dividing Christianity in half, and they're doing it for the sake of entertainment. If you listen to their show for 5 seconds you can see that they have taken a page out of Howard Stern's book on how to produce a radio show. Anyhow, I digress. The point is that they attack Donald Miller FOR PRAYING. Donald didn't sleep with another man and hide it from his gigantic congregation and his wife about it for years. Donald didn't skip out on his taxes. Donald PRAYED and the "Way of the Master" mocks and ridicules him for it. Now is that REALLY the way that the Master would do it? NO!!! Christ rebukes and defies the religiously proud. Nothing in Donald Miller's prayer seems religiously prideful, but much of the "Way of the Master" strikes me as arrogant, pompous, proud, and self righteous.

In fairness, I want to look at what the radio show's complaints were with the prayer.

Their first issue is that it seems preachy and like a lecture. The funny thing is if he hadn't done that, they would be complaining because he missed out on an amazing opportunity to preach.

Their second issue is that he doesn't mention unborn babies in his list of people we need to do a better job of reaching out to and providing opportunities for. This commplaint is somewhat valid, but their method for arguing their point is that he only refers to his "pet emergent issues". I'm sorry, but we are COMMANDED by the Bible to care for the widows and the fatherless. We are COMMANDED by God to take on these issues. I find it sad that "Way of the Master" finds the widows and fatherless to only be issues taken on by the emergent church movement. Shouldn't they be Christian concerns? So, do the radio guys think we should ignore the widows and the fatherless? Sounds like that's how they feel to me.

Their third issue is that he closes the prayer by saying that he is making these requests in the name of Jesus who gave His life to fight the forces of injustice and that Jesus should be our example. Now their issue is that Jesus died to save sinners souls not to fight the forces of injustice. Now, while I agree on the surface with their complaint, it is undermined completely in that they continue to play the donkey sounds over and over and over again. Yes, I know, this was at the DNC and the dems are donkeys, but it is obvious that they are suggesting that Donald is a Jack Ass. It is obvious and obnoxious. They then make some snide comment about Donald possibly not knowing that the gospel is really about Jesus saving sinners and that his prayer is somewhat reminiscent of an interfaith prayer. Like I said, I agree that Jesus didn't really die to fight injustice, but that doesn't mean he doesn't know the gospel or that his prayer wasn't effective and that God didn't hear it.

It's easy to find fault when you're specifically looking for it, and that's what these guys seem to be doing. Sometimes it feels like there is this group of "Christians" who roam around the internet and monitor the radio and tv stations looking for something to pick at. It resembles, in my mind, a group of vultures circling overhead, just waiting for some creature to make a mistake so they can swoop in and devour it. Christianity should be more than that. We should be more concerned with those "pet emergent issues" and less concerned with tearing each other limb from limb for entertainment. I don't recall mockery as being one of the fruits of the spirit, but maybe I missed that week in Sunday school. If it is a fruit though, then these "Way of the Master" guys are definitely on the right track.

I guess my point is that I don't fully agree with every tiny aspect of everything that people like Donald Miller or Rob Bell have to say, but I don't have to agree with everything. That's why God gave me a brain and the Bible. He gave me the ability to discern, and I have to use this ability or I'll get sucked into this trap of believing everything that other people put in front of me. The thing is, I can disagree with Donald Miller and Rob Bell while still respecting them. I can disagree and still recognize that they are my brothers in Christ and we need to work alongside one another to further the cause for Christ. I can disagree and know that God is using them. I truly don't know that I can say the same for "Way of the Master". I'm not saying these guys aren't saved. I don't know them and can't tell you that. But I can say the bit I have heard from them does not exhibit ANY of the fruits of the spirit the Bible tells us we WILL, not might, but WILL, find in a believer.

One final note...Right before they go on about Donald Miller's prayer, the guys on the radio show make a comment about Ted Kennedy not undergoing chemo. They then say "It looks like the man is dying. Let's pray that the fellow get's saved, shall we?" YES we shall, so why don't you. Why does he throw that line out there like it's a tagline? He seems to be treating the idea of praying for someone's salvation like it's a game or a way to get ratings....
I just stopped writing for a moment to pray. I prayed for Ted Kennedy, and I prayed for the guys on "Way of the Master". I say this, not to boast that I prayed, but to urge you to stop reading this right now and pray for Ted Kennedy. Pray that he would be saved. Seriously, stop reading, the web page will still be there when you're done praying. STOP READING AND PRAY.

Ok, now, pray the guys on this radio show would be opened to the error of their ways. Pray that God would convict them of their arrogance. Pray that He would show them mercy and gentleness. Pray that He would use them for His work and that the Devil would not be able to use for evil what I know they truly "intend" for good. I know they think they're doing the right thing and I know they are trying to serve the Lord, but I think they are missing the mark. Pray that God would guide them and correct their wrongs. It makes me sick to think of the hatred and bitterness they are spreading. I pray that this would end. I look at even my own post and see how their hatred and bitterness spread to me and I responded in bitterness. I pray that God would end it. Please pray with me that God would end these wars we are starting among ourselves. The Devil wants us to fight each other so that we are too distracted to get any real work done and fight against him.

May God bless you and may we bless each other.