What To Do Now?

The furor over fundamentalism’s prophets is perhaps dying down, much to the dismay of some, who want to split the FBFI, and none too soon for others who want to pretend “it” never happened (or at least was never pointed out). The calls for the removal of a certain speaker from a meeting went wisely unheeded. The messages reported on were of the expected mixed bag as was the panel discussion. Some took the opportunity to preach on the gospel as an opportunity to preach on those who arrive at a different conclusion about some matters. That was unfortunate.

But here we are. The world hasn’t blown up. The gospel was preached this past Sunday in all kinds of churches, even by those dreaded Calvinists, as people were called to faith and repentance in Christ alone.

So, what do we do now?

How about we get on with the business of making disciples in our local churches? After all, that’s the mission, the mandate from the Chief Shepherd.

The people in our communities don’t care what happened in North Carolina or Schaumburg. Most of us (me included) wouldn’t even know if it wasn’t brought up. IMO, way too much was made over a relatively benign issue. The original comments were uninformed, perhaps hyperbolic, expected, but nonetheless distressing. It wasn’t the first time and won’t be the last time.

Next time, some people will get riled up about it again, and say some true things along with some unnecessary things, and probably call attention to something that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. And people in our congregations still won’t care.

So if you have influence over younger men (or older men), show them a different side, a better way. Show them that fundamentalists do not have to be cranky and territorial. Show them that it’s okay if someone loves God, preaches the gospel, and exegetes certain passages about the mechanics of salvation differently than you do. Show them that silly arguments have no place in discussions about serious matters.

Remind them that even men who did great things for God had sin in their lives in various ways, and that building big churches, schools, or ministries does not give them a free pass on their speech or their leadership tactics or their morality. And do it with grace and love.

Remind people that in order to learn from the past, we have to bring it up and point it out sometimes. And remind them that it doesn’t mean we hate or despise past leaders. And that it does not mean we have to spit on their graves. 

If you are a seminary president, a college president, or professor (what are you doing reading me anyway), then influence young men toward gracious, principled, bold stands for the faith and not for personalities. Speak the truth, even about dead people, and do it with grace. Be unafraid of those with a invitation to speak or an internet connection and way too much time on their hands. Be cautious of associations (groups of people, not friends) and the political machinery that inevitably follows.

And as much as possible, ignore the nonsense. There are some things we shouldn’t dignify with a response.

Which makes me wonder why I responded.