By now, many of you have read the headlines or viewed the evening news stories regarding the arrest of a Lafayette area pastor on some bizarre charges. Given that these events are basically happening in our own backyard, I felt like responding in some manner.

First, my heart breaks for the church, the innocent victims, the family of the pastor, and for the pastor himself.

Second, it appears that we live in a “guilty until proven innocent” culture, rather than one where a person is “innocent until proven guilty”. While it appears that the evidence is pointing in the direction of the pastor, we do not know for sure that he is indeed guilty. Yet, the media is already on top of the story…plastering patchy details and images all over the place. And, so, I struggle with this too…I’ve already cast my judgment. But, at the same time, my heart wants to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe a disgruntled employee is setting him up? Who knows? In this world, anything is possible.

Third, the damage has been done. Regardless of the verdict, lives have been forever changed. Trust has been compromised. Integrity has been questioned. Allegations have been made…and, even if this pastor is proven to be innocent, the damage has been done…to the church, to his family, to the victims, to his ministry. There will be fallout…people will leave that particular church….people might walk away from the Church (big “C”…as in the universal church)…people might walk away from their faith. This may be the final strike for some.

Fourth, I struggle with how to respond. Part of me cries out, “That sick _______ (fill-in the blank with some offensive term).” Part of me wants to know how to respond in love, grace, mercy, and humility. Part of me is filled with anger because of the damage that this causes to the Church…this is not a case where “any press is good press.” This doesn’t help the Movement! Yet, part of me wants to respond in compassion because I know this can happen anywhere.

Fifth, I reminded of the importance of taking steps to protect myself…my family…my ministry…my church…my denomination. Scripture calls leaders to live “above reproach”…leading “blameless” lives. While that is essentially impossible…that is the call…that is what we strive towards (as Wesley would encourage all to “strive after perfection in love.”). Therefore, we need to take steps that protect our ministry from allegations that could destroy the very things we love. Sure, we take risks to share the love, hope, joy, grace, and peace of Jesus with all. But, we do so in ways that, at the end of the day, won’t produce ministry-ending repercussions. I mean, it is one thing for a pastor to get arrested for protesting a violation of civil rights…it’s another thing to get arrested for the pending charges in this case.

Sixth, I believe it is important to get help before it’s too late. If the allegations in this story are true, then there must have been some indications that something was messed up. Pastoral pride, you know…the “I’m the pastor, so I’m supposed to have it all figured out” thing…sometimes gets in the way of pastors seeking the help they need. Too often, pastors (and others) repress their struggles. They operate in “super-pastor” mode and fail to honestly deal with their humanness. Therefore, instead of dealing with their issues in a healthy manner, they act out in destructive ways.

Seventh, I’ve seen this way too many times. I’ve experienced it from a distance. I’ve experienced it a lot closer to home. Whether it’s a megachurch pastor getting “happy endings” from a known male prostitute, a pastor having an affair with a member of his congregation, a pastor crossing ethical lines with one of her staff members, or a pastor who hides his addiction (to whatever)…we’ve seen it too often.

Eighth, at the end of the day, we simply need honesty. Because, let’s face it…aren’t we all messed up? Maybe you’re not messed up in a way that will land you on the 11 o’clock news or the front page of the paper. But, if you’re going to be honest with yourself (and others), you know you have some issues. I mean, my language, my overly-cynical attitude, my eating and drinking habits, my tendency to be quick to judge, my lack of compassion, my failure to truly love the least in meaningful ways, my desire to convince others that “everything is okay” even when it’s not…these are issues that if not dealt with in a healthy manner could eventually cause some major problems.

So, we need to ask ourselves how we are going to handle our issues. Will we deal with our stuff in a healthy manner? Will we get professional help, if necessary? Will we find some trusted friends who will help hold us accountable? Or will we attempt to take the focus off of our “stuff” by pointing out others shortcomings? Will we strive to hide our stuff or will we strive towards honesty and love?

So the church’s supervisor must be without fault. They should be faithful to their spouse, sober, modest, and honest. They should show hospitality and be skilled at teaching. 1 Timothy 3:2, CEB

This weekend, I found myself going overboard on the whole “judging others” thing…

While attending a class at MTSO, I began to have ideas for blog posts based on types of pastors. And, that’s where the judging began…

There would be a post titled “The Creepy Pastor”. This post would have been based on a man that I do not know. I have only seen him and observed some of his actions. Based on his appearance and his actions, I have made a snap judgment and labeled him as “creepy.”

Following “The Creepy Pastor” would have been a post on “The Lazy Pastor”. This post would have been based on a whole group of pastors who prefer to get in their cars and drive to the dining hall, rather than walking across the street and up the sidewalk. I don’t know anything about the physical health of these pastors. So, my judgment was just based on observing them driving from one building to the next building over. Yes, there is a hill that could be physically demanding for some. But, in my labeling these folks as “lazy”, I was making an uninformed judgment.

The next post would have been, “The Boastful Prosperity Pastor”. Now, some may think that this would focus on the types of pastors who brag about how “big” their churches are…how “big” their budget is…how “cool” their ministry is…and so on. But, nope, that’s not the case here. This post was going to be about this one pastor who draws attention to himself through his vehicle. He has a “UM Clergy” plate on the front and a “Pastor 1” license plate on the back. And, I guess business as a UM Clergy in the state of Michigan is “good”, as the plates are on a very expensive, very new SUV. Now, I don’t really know they guy driving this particular vehicle. All of my judgments are simply based on license plates and the make and model of his vehicle.

At first, I tried to justify my judgments. I convinced myself that it’s okay to make these judgments because our first impressions are usually fairly accurate. I mean, if I get the vibe that some dude is creepy, the dude is probably creepy. If I get the impression that someone is lazy, that person is probably lazy. If I feel like a pastor is all about prosperity, then that’s probably an accurate assessment.

And, I tried…all weekend…to justify these judgments. However, as I sit here this afternoon, I find myself realizing I’m the judgmental jerk who didn’t give any of these folks a chance. Sure, my assessment of each person might be totally right. But, does that matter?

Maybe those folks I’m judging are thinking, “Man, that guy is one judgmental jerk who thinks he’s better than us.” And, they would have been right.

I’d like to judge people less. It will be a challenge because my natural tendency is to write someone off before I even give them a chance. 

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” ~Matthew 7:1-2

While checking out the Twitter feed for the United Methodist Church General Conference session, I read a tweet that posed the question, “What model of church should we save?”

With only 140 characters to use, the question did not provide any more depth than that…

However, I found myself asking the questions, “Doesn’t the idea of picking a ‘model of church’ to save sort of miss the point?”

Too often, we reduce the Church down to a style of worship, a form of theology, a system of organization…and we miss the point.

Church isn’t really about any particular “model” other than the Way of Jesus. And, it’s my considered opinion that the Church hasn’t had a great track record of following the Way of Jesus as we wrestle with worship styles, theological debates, and organizational structures. We allow these things to interfere with and sidetrack us from following the Way. 

Too many “church folks” spend too much time debating which theology is “right”, which “style” of worship is superior, which “system” is better, and numerous non-essentials that they forget what the Way of Jesus looks like. 

We allow our diversity of theological perspectives to divide us…rather than celebrating that people can have unique views on a variety of topics and still be on the journey with God…with the same goal of bringing about a Kingdom reality on earth as it is in heaven. 

Shouldn’t we celebrate the fact that you and I can disagree on non-essentials, but still be following the Way of Jesus? 

Hasn’t the Church spent enough time trying to convince people that you have to believe everything exactly the same way?

Years ago, I was in a room with Doug Pagitt as he challenged us to share our dreams for the Church. As I read questions about “what model of the church should we save”, I find myself dreaming for the Church once again…

I dream of a Church where we unite to celebrate our diversity.

I dream of a Church where questions are not only “okay”, but are encouraged.

I dream of a Church where people are encouraged to think.

I dream of a Church where the hungry are fed.

I dream of a Church where the naked are clothed.

I dream of a Church where the sick and imprisoned are visited and cared for.

I dream of a Church where the enemy is truly loved.

I dream of a Church that turns the other cheek.

I dream of a Church that understands the Way of Jesus in not simple or easy.

I dream of a Church that embraces peace.

I dream of a Church that embodies love.

I dream of a Church that truly has “open hearts, open minds, and open doors.”

I dream of a Church that does not discriminate based on race, sexuality, or socio-economic issues.

I dream of a Church that is inclusive, rather than exclusive.

I dream of a Church that takes the Way of Jesus seriously.

I dream of a church that demonstrates the Way of Jesus.

I dream of a Church that works for justice in our communities and in our world.

I dream of a Church that cares for the “least of these.”

I dream of a Church that cares for the orphan and the widow.

I dream of a Church that is known for its fruit, rather than its scandals.

What dreams do you have for the Church?

I guess you can officially call me “old-fashioned.” 

This year, as Samantha has been experiencing her first year of public education, I have found myself being somewhat resistant to certain aspects of her educational journey.

Mainly, my resistance has been focused on the apparent lack of child protection procedures at her school. Emily and I have made a commitment to be present for any field trips because we have learned that the school corporation does not require parent chaperones to have a background check. I am absolutely shocked that the school does not require background checks on every single person that enters the building and comes into contact with the children…in any capacity. Let’s be honest, in today’s world, there is no excuse for NOT taking all precautions to protecting our children. We’ve all seen too many headlines involving adults taking advantage of children in educational settings. But, that’s another post. 

The focus of this post is reading. And, this is where the “old-fashioned” part comes in. 

In order to promote reading, the school has utilized an online reading program. Students are encouraged to get online, login to their account, listen to and read several books. As they listen and read, they are rewarded with points and advance higher levels of achievement. At school, they get to move their name up various charts. And, at the end of the school year, they can get a special certificate and a trophy during a special end of the year program if they make it through the program.

Now, I’m all for online reading. I read numerous online papers and magazines. I’m a big fan on e-readers. I write blogs that I hope others will read. So, yes, I’m a supporter of online reading.

Yet, there’s just something that I struggle to embrace about asking my 5 year old to sit down in front of a computer for lengthy periods of time in order to improve her reading skills.

I mean, if she sits in front of the computer reading she is still, in fact, reading. And, it allows me to be lazy because I really wouldn’t have to sit, listen, and provide assistance. But, it just feels odd. 

And, I’m not saying that I think it is “wrong” for other parents to utilize this program. I’m just saying that it is strange to me. Honestly, I feel like this is just a tool the schools are utilizing to help students while enabling parents to slack on some of the responsibilities of being parents (you know, like spending time with your child and being involved in their education…yes, I know that sounds judgmental…because it is). 

Instead, I would prefer to invite Samantha to sit next to me with a pile of books as we read together. She reads while I listen and offer help when appropriate (something the online program can’t really do).

And so, that’s what we do. We’ve logged on a couple of times and worked through a couple of levels. But, it just seems weird. I mean, I’ve read numerous articles that say children spend too much time online, playing video games, and watching TV. And, now, the schools are encouraging students to develop reading skills by playing an educational, online reading game.

So, instead, we make sure that we read with Samantha every day. And, she’s doing a great job with her reading. According to the standards, she is ahead of schedule with her reading (and writing…and arithmetic…what can I say, she’s a smart cookie). Yet, she won’t be one of the trophy winners at the end of the year. 

Maybe that makes me a bad parent…maybe not. 

And, then, there is another issue…Not every student has access to a computer at home. Sure, we could be heartless and say “Well, maybe their parents should just get them to the library” or “well, maybe if their parents got a decent job they could afford a computer and internet access” or “maybe the parents should spend less on ______ in order to get a computer and internet access.” So, the very nature of the program discriminates against some students. 

Thankfully, the program does not impact the students grades. Not participating in the program simply means some students won’t have their names read while being presented with a certificate and trophy. And, you know what? We might think that’s trivial. But, some students will be upset…even broken-hearted when they don’t receive that trophy.