Celebrity Pastor Restoration Part 2

This is Part 2 of a 2 part post.

Here are some concerns and things to think on:

It is not OUR job to restore fallen celebrities to positions of influence and/or ministry. It is their own community’s job. And privilege. We didn’t walk the road. We didn’t live the story. We don’t know the conversations. We aren’t the first line of accountability. Some would then say the big “C” church needs more stories of restoration. I say that’s not necessarily what we need. We need more stories of the process of restoration going well from within that person’s own living breathing church community. And, that person may have lost the privilege of ever serving in the same capacity again depending on many, many things you and I may never know about and don’t have to.

Likewise, it is not OUR job to make judgments as to whether or not someone is or has dealt with their shortcomings. Same as above. To expand a bit on the Twitter quote earlier, when the worldwide church encourages and applauds a fallen ministry leader’s return to power and influence outside of or in spite of the accountability and authority of that leader’s own church community, the “restoration” is about as effective as wiping a baby’s butt over the phone and saying, “all clean!”

If I come home from work and my children tell me a story of how mom disciplined them for doing something wrong, I am going to get a very one sided story. They might tell me how they were treated unfair. They might make excuses. How wrong would it be if I immediately took their side, removed the punishment and sent them on their way? How horrible would it be if I said to them, in mom’s earshot, that I disagree with her and she is being too hard on them?

What would that say to their mom, my wife about how much I trust her? What do I teach my children about process? What disservice do I do to the family unit? What do I communicate to my children about how I view mom’s role? What horrid lessons do I teach my children about consequence. This is not restoration. This is rebellion, misuse of power, mistrust, and manipulation by both me and my children. It is wrong.

On Paul and David . . . Paul was a murderer before he was a Christ follower and before he was a leader in the Christian church. David was a king who abused his power and was disciplined for it. He was a king, not a pastor. God and the prophet Nathan dealt with him. Bad things happened because of David’s sin. Family members died. He wasn’t allowed to build the temple. Different system. Different rules. Different accountability. P.S. David did not escape that accountability. This line of reasoning is dumb and inappropriate.

On accountability . . . Accountability doesn’t count with the ones who don’t know the whole story or the ones who would help you hide the bodies no matter what the story is.

On grace and forgiveness . . . our ability to forgive, love, and be gracious to any individual who has fallen are completely separate issues from restoring someone to a position of influence. The process of relational restoration, restoring someone’s personal and family dignity, getting or giving someone counsel, ensuring a fallen brother or sister has the wherewithal to earn an income outside of ministry, etc. are all wonderful responsibilities and privileges of that individual’s church community. We can and should forgive and be gracious.

Do our churches need to be better at forgiveness? Yes. Do we, on the whole, suck at loving people who have made bad choices. Pretty much. But, our general church of Jesus worldwide problem is an issue that should be treated separately and should not be confused with our role in the restoration of an individual who may have influenced us yet we have no relationship with.

Restoration happens in relationship.

Discuss.

Celebrity Pastor Restoration Part 1

Today I twittered, “Saying a fallen pastor is ready for influence in spite of the authority of the local church is like wiping a baby’s butt over the phone.” Many of you commented and wanted me to expand.

We are not immune to our leaders falling. Sex, money, power . . . they have the ability to corrupt and often do. None of us are immune. We are all “one giant confession of a respected leader” from falling to our own knees and having our world rocked. When our friends and leaders fall it often defines us in new ways.

Nothing is as sweet as restoration. Healing. Forgiveness. Grace. Where would we be without those things. We love to receive it. We need to give it.

Yet, I am increasingly puzzled and often angered by what happens with celebrity restoration. By “celebrity restoration” I am referring specifically to leaders of great influence and/or popularity being restored to their positions of influence (or similar positions)—as if nothing ever happened— in a short period of time— or over a longer time thanks to short term memories or the fear of conflict—not by the people they are in relationship with, but by the “fans” of that leader.

Did you catch that? I’m referring to us, the fans, the big “C” church, the church worldwide, looking at a leader we know nothing about and putting them back into a position of authority. Looking to them as experts. Buying their books. Hiring them at our churches. Having them speak as authorities and celebrities at our conferences. And doing all of this outside of the authority and accountability of their very own church—the one they let down.

Hear this: I am NOT saying fallen leaders lose their voice or become something less. I am NOT saying they can’t share their story. Here’s what I AM saying . . .

Scenario: A pastor of an influential church has a sexual failure or any major moral failure. He loses his job and his position of power and influence. Because his sin was so public and because so many of us in the church world observe the story, we begin to create our own narrative/mythology surrounding their fall. As such, given the limited and tainted details we receive, we arrive at conclusions such as, “they were treated unloving and/or unfair,” “why can’t we all get along?” or “sure they have faults, but don’t we all?” Typically, someone will throw into the conversation that, if we don’t “receive” them, we are hypocrites who wouldn’t even allow the Apostle Paul or King David to be on staff with us. Soon, because of their celebrity and because everyone wants the rest of the story, they are “restored” to a position of influence, often looking like victims and continuing in ministry of some kind. They get on the road telling the “story,” writing books, speaking and teaching, consulting and merchandising. Much of the time, they do so with little to no accountability or they say they are accountable to some yet, those people are not the ones they should be accountable to.

In these cases, I say it’s doo doo.

To be continued . . .

Correspondence on Alcohol

Today, I Twittered about a Theology of Scotch fundraiser I am hosting for Kalein in Franklin, TN. The Twitter updated my Facebook page and I received a personal message. The correspondence was great and I asked this mom's permission to reprint it for all of us to learn.

John,

God has gifted you with an incredible anointing to take people by the voice and lead them into worshipping at the feet of the Lord. You've been so blessed with skill, with creativity, with intelligence and I want to thank you for sharing those gifts with us.

I am hoping that you might take a moment and think about something that's been on my heart lately. A lot of people have you on their Facebook. Their kids, relatives, spouses, all read your communications.

Here's the hard part, John. I think, that maybe if you'll review your comments over time, you might see a pattern of commenting a lot on alcohol use, which IS NOT, in and of itself something bad. We are free in Christ to do many things, some of which are profitable, some, not so much.

Kids, John . . . they look UP to you. There are people, spouses, kids who read what you write every single day, but really struggle with drinking and it's almost like your stamp of approval makes it ' ok " for them to do the same. Remember . . . kids are followers.

I know you don't want to be a stumbling block for them, or anyone. It's just that it seems to overwhelm your comments from time to time and I'm not sure that's the kind of emphasis you really want to put on life...that it's better with drinking in it. Just food ( or drink ) for thought from someone who cares very much. Maybe ask a pal to look things over and get their thoughts?

We love you!

XXXXX


XXXXX,

First off, thanks for your concern and the kind way you expressed these thoughts. Hopefully, I will respond with the same kindness and care. I’m a big fan of words . . . they mean something. If anything doesn’t sit right, please call me at (xxx)-xxx-xxxx. As always, written words without non-verbal expression and emotional context leave room for error.

My father is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict who is now a Jesus lover. (Other family as well). I have seen the hell people unleash with abuse. I grew up watering pot plants and recycling Coors cans to make extra cash—they were my “chores.” I’m no stranger to the danger. It sounds like you might have some experience as well? At least, we share similar concerns.

I’d like to cautiously examine something you said and hopefully give you some insight into my world. Specifically, “I'm not sure that's the kind of emphasis you really want to put on life...that it's better with drinking in it.”

In all honesty, I enjoy fine food. I enjoy smoking a pipe from time to time. And, I enjoy a good drink. I like these things with friends and family and I also enjoy them by myself. I am a connoisseur of wine and a student and aficionado of scotch. I believe wine is agricultures finest artistic achievement. I am thrilled by the stories of Scotland, the process and history of what was once referred to as “Aqua Vitae—the Water of Life.” I teach small groups and lead fundraisers on, “Theology of Scotch.” I enjoy it. And, though it might be dangerous to say, “life is better with alcohol” I would be lying if I said I didn’t believe some of these things are the fine enjoyments of life.

I do understand my responsibility. As a teacher. As a pastor. As a role model. And, quite frankly (though I am careful to use this term and do so only in this context with you), an influencer of larger than average scope. You are perceptive and correct about the influence.

One thing my brothers (and the alcoholics I minister to) often tell me is they appreciate my stance and my ability to use my influence to give people a good example of what it looks like to enjoy alcohol responsibly—to enjoy without abuse—to celebrate without sin. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Jesus turned water to wine as his first miracle. He turned perception on it’s head. Some might argue it was “grape juice” or weak wine but, make no mistake, in John 2 we read a clear story of the “kind” of wine he supplied. “ . . . the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." (John 2:9,10)

You are completely within bounds to raise question or concern and start conversation. I appreciate that. It is not my goal to convince you drinking is okay since that is not what you asked and you clearly stated it, “IS NOT, in and of itself something bad. We are free in Christ to do many things, some of which are profitable, some, not so much.”

Hopefully, my response is helpful to you. From time to time, you will hear me comment on wine, beer, and especially good scotch because it is part of who I am as an artist and enthusiast. They don’t define me but I am known as a go-to person by many on the history and enjoyment of these things in a responsible manner. I even lead a small group on scotch at Westwinds called, “Aqua Vitae” where we learn about scotch and talk about Jesus, the real Water of Life.

This week, I will be in Nashville teaching about the Theology of Scotch with some theologians, artists and scholars as a fundraiser for an artist development center. I am establishing a great relationship with some in the scotch community as I learn from them and, in turn, teach others a biblical perspective. Many of these men and women are not believers and they are thrilled and expectant about what we are doing. Please pray for me.

I talk to many kids, adults, addicts, enthusiasts about the dangers of alcohol and what it looks like to enjoy these things God created without destroying lives in the process.

If you want to talk further, I would be more than happy to. Thanks for showing your concern in a loving way.

John

P.S. I would love to reprint this conversation with you as a blog post and leave your name out of it if you wouldn’t mind. I think this is a great conversation and the world needs to see us talking responsibly and lovingly about it. Is that okay?


I'm so thankful for your insight, John, and you've presented views that encourage thinking. My own father was an alcoholic/drug addict who committed suicide, and my own son, now 20 has battled both addictions since he was 14, so I share the history ( and the pain )there. It's probably my " mom " parts kicking in that perhaps causes me to take more notice of the topic ( and the fear) at hand.

I do pray for you, friend, and I am very aware of ( yes, it's ok to use the phrase ) your position of influence. God put you there, and you humbly submitted to the call. We are very grateful and blessed for that.

Feel free to use any part of our correspondence, in whatever way might bring vision and clarity to an often murky subject. Although I am not a wine aficionado, I truly enjoy cooking with wine! The flavor is just not duplicated any other way, but honestly you would NOT want to see me drink a glass or two. LOL ( Never could handle it, and become most ridiculously funny). Call it low tolerance, or what you will.

What would be TERRIFIC to read, are some insights from what you're doing behind the scenes!

Thank you so much for sharing your story, your hobby and your insight.
You are prayed for, brother.

Q Reflections Day 3

Q Reflections Day 2

Q Reflections Day One

Zach Williams Folk Prophet

I met Zach WIlliams at Q in Austin this week. Zach opened Q with an acoustic guitar and sang a song that summoned all the good things I love about the prophetic singer songwriters in the tradition of Dylan, Cash, Jonatha Brooke, Derek Webb, Jon Foreman, Sufjan Stevens and the likes. Zach is a legit new folk voice with a sense of urgency and daring vulnerability.

On top of all the great vibe and the rapture of my musical senses, Zach was a great conversationalist with a huge heart for Brooklyn (where he is involved in a church plant) and a huge love for Jesus and people. Zach strikes me as the guy who wears others' burdens physically. He internalizes others' struggles and feels a deep sense of their pain. I think that's what makes him a great songwriter. You can buy some of his stuff on iTunes but the real magic is seeing him live. He's a great storyteller to keep your eye on.

Zach is planting a church in Brooklyn and is connected with my friend Jon Tyson, pastor of Trinity Grace Church in NYC.

Swine Flu 76

Swine Flu is no joke but these ads are hilarious.



HT: Jim Drake

My Daughter's L O S T Trinity Theory

My 9-year-old (almost 10) daughter, Kasidy has a theory on L O S T. And, quite frankly, she blows my mind. Her theory is a Trinitarian island theology. If you are a fan, please read on. If not, this will make no sense and you may be bored.

Now, after she came up with her theory, I checked around on line to see if anyone else had blogged about similar things. I found a couple but, her insights are even better than what I found.

THE FATHER
The Island is the Father. The island is also known as “Jacob.” The island has a will. A plan. The island is living. The island is eternal.

THE SON
The Son is the physical representation of the island. Richard Alpert is the Son. Richard doesn’t age, he understands the island, and he is part of the island. Richard could also be a “John the Baptist” figure talking about and searching for the one who is to come. This could also mean that John Locke is a possible Jesus figure. John rose from the dead or, in fact, the island (Father) raised him from the dead. He also seems to exhibit some healing powers. It is possible others have been healed simply by being around John Locke.

THE HOLY SPIRIT
The smoke monster. Mysterious. Truth teller. Judge/One who convicts.

This theory plays out in so many ways. No one has “seen” Jacob (at least not yet). Jacob may only be known through those who do his will.

The Others (disciples of John?) have been looking for “the one” to come and had hopes that John Locke was “the one.” Their test for John Locke was to see if he would kill his father. He refused. So, they abandoned their hope of him being their “messiah.” The “one” the Others have been looking for seems to be someone who will finally settle their battle with those who don’t belong on the island. Isn’t this much like the biblical account? The Jews believed their Messiah would come to be a conqueror who wielded a sword and set things right with their enemies. The real Messiah came to “conquer” through peace.

The smoke monster convicts Ben of his sin and makes him face his demons. It is also a protector—though it is a bit scary.

Ben is a bit of an anti-Christ figure. He is likeable to an extent yet highly manipulative, a poseur, and thinks too highly of himself. He wants to be “the One” but knows he isn’t. Still, he presses forward consumed by his addiction to power.

And, John Locke . . . who is his father? We know who his mom is. We thought we knew his dad but, it wasn’t “really” his dad. There’s really no father in the picture. Unless . . . there was some sort of immaculate conception for him who always seems to know his job is to do the will of the island, even when it doesn’t make sense to everyone. Father knows best.

As we teased this out a bit more, the possibilities are endless for this theory. In what other ways can you see a Trinitarian model in L O S T?

Christ Cologne

This is one of the most awful things ever and . . . it's funny. I can laugh because I know it's a joke but, what's not funny is I don't know how much worse it is than Testamints, Guitar Praise, or the myriad of crappy Jesus trinkets, games, jewelry, and 90% of what is in the Christian bookstores that people try to pass off as legit. I'm glad it's a joke but it scares me to think some religion infatuated entrepreneur is sitting at home playing Bibleopoly and thinking, "oh crap, they stole my idea!"

Good Friday Art Piece

Our friend, fellow Westwindee and an exceptional artist, Mrs. Heidi Rhoades did a beautiful 4'x8' charcoal art piece on good Friday between the two Fusions. She started with a blank canvas at 6:00 and wrapped it up at 8:30.

Heidi told me beforehand she was excited to have no idea what she was going to create beforehand but create as she worshiped.

This art is now on display at The Winds.

Train Station Dance

A Twitter friend (Perry) sent this link out today and it brightened my morning. Sometimes things like this catch me by surprise and I actually get a little emotional. It's this kind of thing that reminds me about the life Jesus promised. Abundant. Full.

Southwest Rapper

Random Eggs of Kindness

This weekend, one of our worship interactives at Westwinds is designed to breathe life into the community of Jackson and surrounding communities.

Hundreds of Easter eggs will be in the auditorium. Each egg is filled with a charge for the week. Each act is inexpensive and many are free.

Resurrection means life. Quantity and quality. These not-so-random acts teach us what it means to be a worshiper, a giver, a friend to our communities, a benefactor.

Each egg will also contain a Westwinds "Come Dirty" card to leave when appropriate or pack inside a gift, etc. "Come Dirty" is our motto for the year--our campaign to invite our living community to join our church community.

We will be collecting follow-up stories on video to share with the church and I will post some of them here. Here are some of the things people will find when they crack an egg:

Buy a few kids books from the local bookstore. Give the books to a school library.

Recycle your soda cans. Hand the money you make to someone in line behind you.

Order food from a counter inside and pay for a person’s food in the drive-through.

Buy lunch for a random person in a restaurant.

Bring coffee to an office in town just for fun.

Buy coffee for the person in line behind you.

Send a gift certificate to your neighbor.

Make cookies for your neighbor.

Send an anonymous thank you card and gift card to a person. Say it’s from “someone from Westwinds Church.”

Leave 10 dollars with a cashier. Tell them to use it to pay for anyone’s groceries that went over their budget.

Help load someone’s groceries in their car and return their cart for them.

Buy some $5 gift cards from MacDonald’s. Hand them out to people who need them throughout the week.

Drop off some cash at Goodwill or your local thrift store. Tell them to use it to pay for clothing for people until the money runs out.

Buy a meal for a young couple or family sitting next to you at a restaurant.

Buy shoes or clothes for a family in need.

Bake cookies for a neighbor or teacher, just because.
Help an elderly person with yard work or grocery shopping.

Visit a nursing home and bring cupcakes.

Sit and visit with a few of the residents at a nursing home.

Volunteer your time at a local homeless shelter or a crisis nursery.

Donate a day of your time to the organization of your choice.

Donate some grief books to the library or a local support group.

Leave an extra large tip for your food server!

Leave a bouquet of flowers on someone’s front door step.

Bake goodies and take them to the police station, fire station, or hospital.

Pay a local teen to mow an elderly neighbor’s yard.

Buy a baby’s blanket and take it to the hospital nursery. Premature babies can always use tiny booties and caps.

Buy a balloon bouquet and ask the nurses the children’s hospital to deliver them to a child.

Make a memorial donation to honor your loved one and a friend’s loved one.

Take a box of doughnuts to an elementary school for a classroom.

Adopt a street or just pick up litter in the neighborhood.

Leave your change in the soda machine for the next person. It's a nice surprise.

Write to management at places where you get especially good service and commend them (specify names!)

Volunteer to read a book to children at your nearest library.

Pay for a small child's candy at a convenient store.

Buy a toy for a child in the store and ask the clerk to deliver it after you’ve gone.

Bring coffee to workers on a construction site.

Buy a case of sodas for your UPS driver.

Put a gift in your mailbox for your mail carrier.

Wash the windows in an elderly person’s home.

Invite a family from your neighborhood over to dinner.

Buy a bottle of wine or a gift basket for a neighbor.

Buy a gift for your favorite bank teller.

Deliver chocolates to your bank tellers.

Buy a gift for your favorite barista, waiter, clerk, etc. and deliver it to them.

Anonymously send flowers to a single mom and tell her someone from Westwinds is praying for her.

Send an anonymous gift certificate to a single mom.

Anonymously send a gift to a single mother and tell her someone from Westwinds is praying for her.

Deliver coffee and donuts to a car dealership. Tell them you are praying for them in these rough economic times.

Deliver a dozen donuts to the office at an elementary school. Thank them for loving kids.

Deliver donuts to a classroom.

Buy a gift certificate for a community leader. Send it to them anonymously with a thank you note.

Leave gifts on someone’s doorstep. Or, pick a few needy families and leave them gifts. Small gifts go a long way!

Place an anonymous ad in the newspaper, thanking someone by name. Example: To Jen who always serves me coffee with a smile at Starbucks, thank you!

Call Consumers Energy. Tell them you want to anonymously pay part of someone’s bill that needs it as a member of Westwinds.

Send a movie gift card to a neighbor or co-worker.

Buy a good book and send it to a friend or neighbor with an anonymous thank you.

Go in to a repair shop. Tell them you want to anonymously pay for someone’s repair up to whatever amount you can afford.

Easter Goodies

(This vid is the work of my friend, Brian Chandler who is wrapping up his last weekend at Lakeside this weekend. Godspeed, friend.)

In other news . . .

David wrote a great intro to our series on resurrection. This appears on the Westwinds homepage:

Ever wonder why Easter sucks as a holiday?

Thanksgiving is great
– food, backyard football, food, naps, the family you like, etc.

Halloween is superb
– dressing up, candy, scaring kids at the door, The Great Pumpkin, etc.

And Christmas, of course, couldn’t be better
– Jolly ole St. Nick, Silent Night, bags of presents and mushy mandarin oranges.

But Easter…well, Easter just doesn’t have the same market share. You can’t commercialize Christ on a Cross and the bunny just hasn’t panned out that well.

That may be why Easter isn’t as big a deal in the malls and on the dazzling screens…because the mystery of Christ’s death (and the brutal and wonderful way he reunites us with God) is simply too powerful to be co-opted by the media and capitalized on by investors.

Easter is about something so mysterious it cannot be reduced to trinkets and charms and still feel like Easter.

Easter is about something so incredible it cannot be appreciated properly without incredible study and devotion.

Easter is about something so transcendent it cannot be gotten hold of – not wholly, even with an understanding that it concerns a past action, with present context, and future consequence.

Yes – Easter is about something that happened. Jesus of Nazareth really was an historical person who really was executed by the Roman Empire for sedition and whose followers really did proclaim that he had been resurrected into a new body and who founded the Church on the basis of that belief.

Yes – Easter is about something that is still happening. Christ’s followers are still proclaiming that there is a force stronger than Death, more powerful than the grave, and that force – that resurrection power – is at work in the world through God the Holy Spirit.

Yes – Easter is about something that will happen. It is about the future hope of Christ-followers who understand that there will come a time when every wrong is put back to rights, when God’s Kingdom will permeate and transform this world into a new one and that we will also received new bodies just as Christ did.

Sound too weird? Too fantastical?

That’s fine – you’re welcome to continue petting bunnies and sucking on eggs – but I have to caution you not to suspend belief before you willingly suspend disbelief.

Iconography

I rarely share "unfinished" images of our design around Westwinds. I'm a bit of a perfectionist. But, many of you have asked about the images we are painting around the auditorium as part of our new aesthetics change.

The word iconography literally means "image writing", and comes from the Greek εικον (image) and γραφειν (to write). We are painting some graffiti-like images of popular "scenes" surrounding the Good Friday and Easter stories--think stations of the cross meets 2nd Testament images of Father, Son, and Spirit. Much like stained glass and the screen, we are using art in this instance to tell the story.

The images are painted around the perimeter of the room. The room itself is not done yet but here is a sneak peek at the images. These images were drawn by two artists and made into stencils which were "tagged" on the walls.

Dear churches, if you want to be creative in your space, learn to paint the walls. All the time. New colors. New images. No committees. Give your artists the charge they are made to have.

I See TED People

My buddy Spence tweeted this vid today. I love this stuff.

Another Favorite Commercial

Metallica Guitar Hero

This rules.