Spiritual Ghosting

Sometimes it’s a phone call, sometimes it’s a text or Facebook message, sometimes it’s even a face to face meeting, but often it’s simply nothing at all. People you’ve prayed for, counseled with, depended on, and shared life together walk away from your fellowship, often without so much as a word. It’s the most difficult aspect of ministry for me by far: when those you love within the church no longer desire to be a part of the church. Sometimes it’s my fault, sometimes it’s their fault, it’s almost always the devil’s fault, and sometimes I don’t know whose fault it is at all, and at a certain point it doesn’t really matter anyway. All I know is that it hurts, at certain seasons almost unbearably so.

One of the hardest realities of ministry is found in the words of Jesus from John 6:67: “Will you also go away?” I don’t know exactly what our Lord was feeling when he asked this question, but part of me so wants to identify with him in that hour. The divine sense of abandonment, betrayal, and investments gone unreturned are all on display, yet the human elements of weakness, frailty, and the struggle to simply endure in ministry also lurk in the background. Our calling is both joyous and sorrowful; it is in sickness and health; it is both the mountain of the Lord and the valley of the shadow of death merged together; jars of clay holding invaluable treasure, yet always on the brink of being shattered. It is Elijah, the prophet of God who never tasted death, nevertheless asking for it at the lowest point of his calling. It is the very nature of the way of the master, to follow in the suffering of his steps. It is a difficult path. It’s been trodden before.

I well remember in the early days of ministry my pastor instructing me not to take things personally. A few weeks later, after a family with tenured membership had mentioned possibly leaving the church and I sensed his sorrowful frustration, I decided in my 20-year-old wisdom to remind him of what he told me, not to take things personally. “Well, it’s hard not to,” was his response after over a half century of experience. Labors of love and ministries of mercy, coupled with the crushing weight of bearing the burdens of soul care, is difficult to explain without sounding melodramatic or Shakespearean in lament, but the very nature of pastoral calling makes the reality between the already but not yet, the kingdom come but still waiting for his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, all the more evident as time goes on and the day draws near. If you’re trying to do ministry in your own strength and in your own power, dear brothers and sisters, you are out of your mind.

One of the most encouraging realities of ministry is found in Peter’s response to Jesus’s question in John 6:68: “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of life.” Wherever we go, Jesus is there. Faithfulness can be found. This momentary affliction is nothing compared with the glory that shall be revealed. For every unrequited Demas, there is a returning John Mark, found in the midst of the Lord’s redeemed. For every Peter in denial, there is also a Peter restored: “Lovest thou me? Feed my sheep.” The kingdom is yours. Here are the keys.

Let us not make our identities in the roll calls of our attendance or the accomplishments of our success, but simply in the faithfulness of daily pouring out our lives as an offering to the one who gave his all for us. Because regardless of whether you have an earthly meeting, the heavenly conversation never ends. Irreconcilable differences with people are reconcilable with God.

Note: I wrote this article about 5 years ago without publishing. Found it in my notes this morning. Hope it’s encouraging to someone today!

The Hope of A Great Nation

During this time of uncertainty and the unknown, responding with anxiety is only natural. As one of my good counseling friends recently mentioned, problems and tendencies that were present beforehand are magnified in a time of crisis, and we're seeing that observation in numerous ways, both at institutional and personal levels.

But I hope we'll also take the time to see what's right: hundreds of millions of Americans voluntarily staying home, thousands of hospital workers serving valiantly on the front lines of a pandemic war, churches moving online as virtual hands and feet of Jesus, businesses that are themselves struggling still offering to help those in need.

This is the country we love. The one that once honored the Lord, at least on a surface level.

The one that won world wars, sent men to the moon, and developed the greatest economy / higher ed / representative government system the world had ever seen.

The one that, while with its shares of struggles and mistakes, for the most part sought to build up other countries and people rather than tear them down.

The one that sent missionaries who spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth BEFORE we had any sense of modern technology.

The one where the major decisions rested not in Washington, but in church houses, school houses, and town council meetings.

The America we all love is still there. And it doesn't involve traveling back in time to the way things used to be. It simply means remembering our founding, liberating documents that all are created equal. That the great promise of the American dream is that you too can come from all over the world and have an opportunity to succeed.

Doesn't mean we're perfect. Doesn't mean we have it all together. But there's still something about this nation that hasn't been taken away: its people. And if we'll care for one another, and be our brother's (and sister's) keeper, whatever the future holds, our union can remain.

God bless this country. And may her people turn to thee.

On The Call To Glendale

To say the last 10 months have been unexpected would be the understatement of my life. With some significant challenges and setbacks have also come some great blessings. What a privilege it has been to preach the Word of God to over 30 different churches all over the Commonwealth and to participate in more than 9 revivals. To connect with pastors and congregations alike, to witness the successes and the struggles, all the while knowing the kingdom of God is always on the move. Connecting with churches and ministry leaders is one of the most enjoyable tasks I have on this earth.

As I’ve worked to finish my PhD dissertation, though (Come, Lord Jesus), my heart to shepherd the local church never really left. In fact, I’ve found myself in pastoral roles throughout these travels, offering a word of encouragement or a word of counsel here and there. I’ve talked with more committees, conducted more interviews, and filled out more questionnaires than I ever thought possible, all the while knowing that something wasn’t quite right, even as some good offers and possibilities came and went. 

When my home church contacted me early last year, my desire was not to return to the place where I grew up. Don’t get me wrong: I love Glendale Baptist Church, they’re family, and it’s good to visit with family, just so long as you don’t have to work with them, right? Then there’s the whole can you lead the place where you grew up? Will you be the seasoned pastor with a dozen years of ministry experience or the 4 year old kid who threw up in the church Living Christmas Tree? It’s a legit concern!

After talking with the search team several times over the last few months, though, along with trusted friends and counselors, I’ve determined this role is what the Lord is calling me to do. And at that point, it’s ballgame for me. And so today (March 8th, 2020) I accepted that call.

We’ve got some challenges. There’s about 70 of us, we’ve got some overhead in debt, and in some ways we need to update our methods significantly. But the one thing that Glendale Baptist Church knows how to do is mission. We’ve done it for 60 years, seen thousands baptized, and hundreds called out. And God willing, we’re going to do it again.

On Sunday, September 13th, about 6 months from now, we’re relaunching as Glendale at Cave Mill, with a new location and a new vision for a ministry focused on Bringing in, Raising up, and Sending out a Generation #ALLin for Christ.

We’re going to rebrand and rethink our strategy, update our technology for broadcasting, fix our parking, and add a decent church sign, and we’re going to try to raise $100K to do it. If you want to give to the Glendale Relaunch Fund, be my guest. Tax write-offs in heaven for you!

But the bigger ask is this: if God has laid a mission mentality on your heart, and you’d like to come help us for the next 6 months as we relaunch, my goodness could we use you. We need greeters and tech people, ushers and musicians, kids workers and youth workers. I’m not a prosperity gospel guy, but at this point you can name it and claim it for the volunteer needs we have. Come to one of our services prior to the relaunch, we meet each week at 1807 Cave Mill Road. I’d love to have a conversation with you.

But most of all, pray. If you’re not active anywhere in church right now, why not give us a shot? If you’ve been hurt by church before in the past (and maybe unintentionally by us), I promise you, if you walk through those doors, you’ll be welcomed with open arms. We'll meet you right where you are. Come home.

We’re kicking things off on Easter Sunday, April 12th, with a goal of moving toward that September 13th relaunch date.

There’s 10,000 people within a mile of our 16 acre campus, 50,000 within 3, and 20 million vehicles passing through I-65 annually, just a couple of minutes away. BG / Warren County has 140,000 people in it right now, and is projected to have 180,000 by 2040. The harvest is plentiful. Lord, send laborers.

Behind Hobby Lobby, across from Greenwood Mall.

The best of the old meets the best of the new. Come see for yourself. 

Let's tell a new generation of His excellent greatness.

Let's call out the called.

Glendale at Cave Mill:

Bringing in, Raising up, and Sending out a Generation #ALLin for Christ

#GlendaleCaveMill

Coronavirus and the Church

The report the federal government and all governors were given last week. It’s why we’re doing what we’re doing.

And here’s the thing: lots of people will call these measures an overreaction if successful, but that’s exactly what stopping a pandemic will look like if you manage to stop it before it’s too late: an overreaction. We’ll never know just how many lives will be saved simply because we stayed home.

Going to be hard to go back to life as ‘normal’ (whatever ‘normal’ means these days anyway) without a vaccine likely in place for the next 12-18 months, for fear of spreading the virus and the potentially unfathomable loss of millions of our elderly and vulnerable were we to simply do nothing, more than at any time in modern American history.

In the meantime, social loss, economic loss, and anxiety remain real concerns. Will there ever be another opportunity in our lifetimes for the church to be the church? And that’s just it: never before in history have we had the technology to do what we can do, not as a physically gathered community, but a virtual one.

So let’s love our neighbors. Let’s check on and offer to help the elderly and vulnerable. Let’s pray for our government officials and hospital workers. Let’s support local restaurants and businesses as best we possibly can. And let’s share the gospel like never before, through every medium available, online and by phone. 

This is our time, Church. Let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus. Let’s shine the light in a dark world. In the midst of anxiety, panic, and fear, this can be our finest hour.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/medicine/sph/ide/gida-fellowships/Imperial-College-COVID19-NPI-modelling-16-03-2020.pdf

A Tribute to Kobe Bryant

I remember the night he was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, then proceeded to tell them he wouldn’t play for anyone other than the Lakers, his childhood dream team. He was one of the first draft picks, along with Kevin Garnett, to be drafted straight out of high school, unheard of in the mid-90s. 

I remember how hungry he was for it as an 18 year old, scoring brilliantly one moment, then launching consecutive airballs in a crucial playoff game in the next. How he wanted to compete against Michael Jordan, telling him he could beat him one on one. Always one to appreciate confidence, MJ became a fan that day and later revealed that Kobe may have truly been able to beat him in his prime because he “stole all my moves.” Imitation as the sincerest form of flattery. Ever the learner Bryant was.

I remember the early struggles with the Lakers, how they always seemed to be on the brink of success but couldn’t quite pull it together, even with the most dominant center in history, Shaquille O’Neal, on board. Then Phil Jackson came along and tapped into Kobe’s greatness, greatness that extended behind his athletic abilities and into his mind, resulting in 3 consecutive championships.

Kobe’s greatness, though, largely transcended the basketball court. A kid who grew up in Italy, spoke fluent Italian, went to high school in Philly but never quite fit into a solely American upbringing, having been raised around the globe through the travels of his journeyman father, Joe. Just a few weeks ago, Luka Doncic turned around as he threw an inbounds pass and noticed Kobe sitting behind him. What got Luka’s attention? Kobe was addressing him in the Mavs star’s native Serbian. There’s just not many individuals, much less athletes, who can pull that off. 

I remember the early, always-present McDonald’s commercials, the feuds with Shaq, then with Phil, how it all nearly came crashing to an end in Colorado during one ill-advised weekend. How Kobe came back with Psalm  27 tattooed on his arm and a million dollar ring on his wife’s hand, determined to repent.

He could score at will, but basketball to him was more than just stat lines. It was more like a dance, a waltz that he himself was orchestrating. There’s a video of him narrating a game he played in 2008, directed by Spike Lee. The cameras give an overhead angle, and it’s just Kobe commenting throughout. His insight is incredible. 

There was Kobe the insomniac, who stayed up most of the night reading books and reaching out to business tycoons and effective executives, who was just as content to have a conversation about anything intellectual as he was athletic.

The Kobe who was one of the most gifted athletes ever, yet still refusing to let anyone outwork him, in the gym or in life. The Kobe who eventually became a teammate, never losing that competitive fire while learning to intentionally channel encouragement to those he led. Who can forget when he swung his arms out wide after draining an impossible, game-clenching 3 against Phoenix in the 2010 playoffs, a sign that he was simply landing the plane? Two more consecutive championships resulted, for a total of 5.

Or what about the ever-controversial turned world peace-loving Ron Artest thanking Kobe and the rest of the team for giving him another chance when no one else would. Or Kobe bringing his wife and daughters to games with him. Over and over again. That however difficult it may have been to forget the accusations and the adultery of years gone by, it was nevertheless also impossible not to recognize a genuine, doting father proud of his girls. The most famous athlete in the world promoting other sports, and more importantly, girls in sports.

News like this is shocking precisely because Kobe’s influence went beyond the hardwood. World-famous in the most literal sense, he made us want to pursue excellence, to get the most out of every breath of life. That the God who created us has put us on this earth to bring him glory, to the very best of our ability. And for that we owe him our thanks. And to his family and all affected, our prayers.

A Plea For Unity

Often in our national history it takes great tragedy in order to pull us together. Revolutionary crisis, World Wars, assassinations of presidents and U.S. leaders. 

In my lifetime, I’ve never experienced the unity of post 9/11 America. Congressional and governmental officials were kind to each other, partisan politics were secondary matters, and for the first time in a long time, compassion and understanding ruled the day. It didn’t last long, but what an incredible sight it was to see. 

I talked with some British visitors in Boston on our junior / senior high school trip shortly after the attacks. They mentioned how much they loved America and were praying for her people. I told them how much I appreciated Tony Blair sitting in the House gallery to hear George W. Bush’s speech. Two countries as former enemies now acting as friends.

I’m torn by what I see today. Not just partisan politics, but the way we treat those with whom we disagree, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike. I’m praying for a day when there will be the spirit of unity in the bond of peace. Not that we’ll always agree, not that there won’t at times be necessary and principled divides, but that we’ll simply assume the best of one another. 

I pray for a day when this world will know what it truly means to be an American: that all are created equal. That human dignity has inherent value and worth. 

God help us. God bless us. God be with us.

Recommending Jesus

Woke up early this morning to someone who did not recommend attending Hawesville Baptist Church. After not recognizing the name, I read the post and wrote a response below:

“The Bible is a compendium of fire side tales and fables, recounted orally for generations by goat herders and primitive tribes from the stone age, until writing was invented, and then again, many different sources, transliterations, and versions were copied and written down. 

 'The Bible was created during a time where stories were orally passed down over thousands of years. Stories constantly morphed and changed over time, and the Bible is a collection of these. This is why it has the nearly identical flood story from Gilgamesh, and why Jesus has the same characteristics as Dionysus, Osiris, Horus, Mithra, and Krishna. 

The contradictions and immorality in the stories are not evidence that God is flawed or evil, 
but rather that humans invented him, just like the thousands of other gods that we used to but no longer believe in.''...and to answer the questions of the many fears and mysteries of our universe, like 'thunder' and earthquakes, since there was no science yet.

This is the old Testament.

The ‘new’ Testes is also hearsay since these letters, ‘gospels’ and stories were written by the loyal faithful, the camp followers, not by objective historians at that particular time, or by any contemporary writers, and these tales were written many years after the supposed events of this mythical Jesus. 

Thus, there is no verifiable evidence of a Jesus in real documented history. 

Then, many of these stories, but not all, as many were not chosen,  

[ There are more than just four Gospels but only these four were agreed on ], 
were compiled for one self-absorbed converted Roman Emperor in his Nicean Council,
for his expressed purpose of conquest and control of the people of Europe for his Holy Roman Empire. He recognised that this was the perfect religion/mythology for the future domination of the populaces. 

Half of the stories were ignored by the Nicean Bishops and none have been proven to be based on fact. This ‘Bable’ book is backed up by absolutely no facts and no evidence.

It is not proof for any god(s) ....(or of any jesus...) 

It is a historical novel.....

Only!

The Bible is proof of a book ONLY (certainly not evidence of any gods...)

Here’s my response:

Hey Brien,

Actually, there’s more proof for the reliability, accuracy, and veracity of the Bible than the works of Plato, Herodotus, and Aristotle combined. Fragments of the Dead Scrolls reveal an accuracy of translation passed down for thousands of years. Archeological evidence swings in the Scripture’s favor almost daily. Well before the Nicean Council, the Old and New Testament canons had been completed and passed down through papyrus, parchment, codex, and whatever other material believers of the times could acquire. 

Far from being an invented figure, the Jesus of history is documented by historians such as Josephus, Pliny the Elder, along with various Roman and Jewish artifacts, even by people who didn’t believe on his name. 

Take every other story of the Bible that you want to argue and only one of them has to be true: we believe this Jesus died on the cross for your sins, my sins, and also the sins of the whole world, and that God miraculously raised him from the dead three days later, having been seen alive by more than 500 witnesses. We believe that right now he is seated at the right hand of the throne of God, and he ever lives to make intercession for those who would follow him, including you.  

There’s more evidence for the presence of faith than its absence. There’s the ontological argument, then there’s the teleological argument, that the heavens declare the glory of God, and the earth reveals his handiwork. Deep within every human heart is a longing to know, to be restored by, and to be reunited with the God who created them for his very pleasure. As Augustine said years ago, restless is our heart until it rests in him.

Brien, I think if you had a chance to attend Hawesville Baptist Church, you would feel differently about your recommendation. You would be welcomed, loved, and befriended by folks who aren’t related primarily by genealogy, but by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. He loves you with an everlasting love, and if you’ll come to him, he will do the same for you as he’s done for me and everyone else who has called upon his name: give life, peace, pardon, and a purpose that goes beyond anything this temporal world can offer. 

The truth is we don’t read the Bible; the Bible reads us, better than any book ever could. The greatest, most grace-filled irony in all the world than the human desire to know God is his even greater desire to know us. He wants to know you more than you want to know yourself. I pray that the God of this universe would reveal himself to you, and that you would receive his peace.

If I can help you in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

God bless you, 

Barry

Pastor, Hawesville Baptist Church

Why I Think the IMB's Greatest Days Are Ahead

Why I Think The IMB’s Greatest Days Are Ahead

This past spring, while sitting outside a Circle S station in Tell City, Indiana, awaiting our second service, I asked our guest speaker that day to consider accepting the role of President of the International Mission Board should it be offered. While no clouds scrolled back from the sky, nor did the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove upon our Chevy Suburban, I did sense the presence of God’s anointing on a man obviously burdened to reach the nations with the gospel. Yesterday, that guest speaker was announced as the official candidate for the IMB. 

I’m doubtful there will ever be a monument laid at that gas pump, but I do believe the election of Paul Chitwood will eternally impact the kingdom far more than any ballot cast during yesterday’s midterms. That prediction is true for a number of reasons:

HUMILITY

Having worked closely with Paul on a variety of denominational issues within our Commonwealth, I’ve seen him interact with numerous people both inside and outside church walls, pastors large and small, intellectuals and everyday Joes, and what I’ve found is "Dr. C” has a unique gift to connect with people from all walks of life. In fact, I’d say he’s as gifted in that area as anyone I’ve ever met. Seminary professors, missionaries on the field, denominational influencers, whoever: I’ve observed him break down barriers on multiple occasions in order to foster understanding. With a denomination as diverse as ours, that kind of relational insight will be invaluable whether or in Richmond or Riyadh, Nashville or Naples.

STATESMAN

While our political world seems devoid of statesmen during this time, I believe our Southern Baptist sphere has just nominated one of the best in a generation. Dr. Chitwood possesses an innate sense of how to articulate the times in which we live to brothers and sisters across the denominational spectrum. Even when conversations become necessarily difficult, Paul has time and again called us back to our mission as heralds of the good news. Imagine someone with advanced governmental and administrative abilities coupled with a skill set to communicate complex issues in a simple way: now imagine that individual merged with a kingdom heart. That’s Paul Chitwood.

CALLING

From humble beginnings in the foothills of Jellico, Tennessee, God has set Paul Chitwood on a path only the Lord could have paved. At every stop along the way, from trustee chair to foster care, he has supported the mission of our Lord through the strategy of our Cooperative Program, the idea that we are better together. No one is a greater champion of SBC causes than Dr. C. I believe God has raised him up for such a time as this.

While I’m sad for our Commonwealth, I’m excited for the nations. Let them be glad, because an effectual calling is coming their way.

A Wall Without A Castle - An Article on Border Enforcement

In perhaps the best-known inaugural address in U.S. history, Franklin D. Roosevelt calmly declared, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Jesus tells us the same thing in John 14, to “let not your heart be troubled…neither let it be afraid.” Often fear is used as a weapon to galvanize movements or to garner support, but a cause built on fear rather than hope, grounded in anxiety rather than truth, is a cause destined to fail.

When it comes to the current policies of the United States Federal Government and to the political climate in general, on both sides of the aisle, I am concerned that our human inclination toward isolationism and protectionism may in fact be drowning out our better angels of reason and compassion. 

No one is disputing the need to protect our borders. In fact, at the end of the Obama administration, illegal immigration was at a 40 year low in this country after being at an all-time high just a decade or so beforehand. Nor is anyone arguing the need to be watchful and to keep vigilance. Strength and wisdom are not opposing values.

But when a government enforces an ambiguous policy that separates parents from children, fathers from sons, daughters from mothers, and then relies on that same government to make sure their kids are placed in the hands of family members rather than strangers, the pendulum has swung too far. "America First" may be a fine campaign slogan, but it is not the gospel of Christ.

Is it just me, or have we forgotten that every event of domestic terrorism in this country, aside from Pearl Harbor, has happened at the hands of U.S. citizens or those we were here legally, not illegally? For every MS-13 threat from without, there are a thousand threats from within. If we’re not careful, we may very well build a wall without a castle (watch the first 5 minutes of this sermon).

In cases of domestic violations, the USFG is often required by law to separate families. In the cases involving the US border, they are not, nor have they ever been. It seems to me that we ought to ere on the side of compassion when children are involved. There are recorded documentations of children not being able to be placed with their parents again because the federal government is not the best keeper of records (IRS anyone?).

I recognize our country has challenges, but using children as pawns is not the solution. The USFG seems ill prepared at best to enforce this new policy given that children are sleeping on floors and in tents. Many of these families are either looking for work or fleeing from persecution. Doesn't mean they should be rewarded for crossing the border, but neither should we be penalizing their kids. Let these children remain with their families while their cases are being reviewed, as the policy has been for decades. To do otherwise is not only fearful; it’s simply inhumane.

Paige Patterson, the SBC, and Me (too)

Paige Patterson, the SBC, and Me (too):

I remember well the first time I met Paige Patterson. He came to preach at the annual area-wide Bible conference at my home church, Glendale Baptist in Bowling Green, KY, at the invitation of our long-time pastor, Richard Oldham (a conference where I also met Albert Mohler, Richard Land, Hershael York, James Merritt, and a host of other SBC personalities for the first time). I even remember what he preached on (four views of the Lord’s Supper). This was in January of 2000. I was 15. I went up to him afterward and had him sign my Scofield Reference Bible, which I proudly carried for everyone to see. I knew of his legendary status in Southern Baptist life even at that young age. 

It would not be our last encounter. The following year I attended the perennial First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s Pastors Conference (also at the invitation of my pastor). Walking into that cavernous 9,500 seat sanctuary on a winter Sunday morning (the first church in which I had ever encountered escalators) as Dr. Patterson was giving the invitation, his captivating manner and delivery resonated with this high school sophomore. I shook hands with him during my first semester at Southern Seminary in 2007 after he preached the chapel service: “Barry, I’m Paige Patterson; it’s good to see you." The last time I encountered him close-up, ironically, was while sitting next to Joel Gregory at the Evangelical Homiletics Society annual conference in October 2016 (held at Southwestern’s Riley Center that year), where Dr. Gregory made an out of his way effort to greet Dr. Patterson. I was surprised both to see Dr. Gregory on location at SWBTS and to see their personal interaction, given their previous histories at FBC Dallas and Criswell College, respectively. 

Although I’ve seen him up close on several occasions, I’ve watched him from a distance for the majority of my life. Paige Patterson is lionized in Southern Baptist circles because he helped preserve doctrinal orthodoxy. At a time when most denominations were drifting away from Biblical values toward secular influences, Dr. Patterson devised a method to elect conservative presidents who would keep the SBC anchored to its Scriptural moorings. To my knowledge, we are the only major denomination in history to return to doctrinal fidelity. Paige Patterson and Judge Paul Pressler, over beignets in New Orleans a generation ago, helped make that reality possible. Dr. Patterson is one of the last foot soldiers remaining from that historic conservative resurgence. 

That’s part of the reason why what the trustees at Southwestern Seminary did early this morning was so difficult. How do you honor someone who helped rescue the greatest missions-sending organization in church history while also unequivocally repudiating his comments relating to women, misogyny, and abuse? Most of us have family members and friends without whom life as we know it would not be possible, yet those family members and friends are also deeply-flawed. Sometimes moral heroes and crazy uncles reside in the same body. 

That’s the dilemma facing many of us within the larger #MeToo movement. How do you condemn the comments of the very ones you love without permanently breaking relationships? It’s not as easy as simply denouncing their rhetoric; at a certain level, you also have to denounce their character. The saddest part of this whole scenario is that the true victims, those who’ve experienced sexism, or in the worst cases, sexual assault, rape, and abuse, have to listen to us deliberate how to soft-land the same people who crashed a significant portion of their lives. It’s necessary, totally necessary, but not easy.

To all the victims of abuse: please tell us your stories. Please come forward. We want to hear you. Jesus hears you.

To all the younger generation thinking of abandoning SBC orthodoxy: brighter days are coming. While we are thankful to Dr. Patterson preserving our Baptist Faith and Message, we’re also ready to reach a new generation, one that will "tell of His excellent greatness." I’m greatly encouraged at many who God is raising up, even within my local church community. The Lord is working among us. Different approach, same gospel.

To all those outside SBC lines: we love you. We want to serve you. You may not agree with our gospel, but when you see yellow shirts and yellow hats during disaster times in your homes, when you witness food drives, as well as health and dental clinics in your communities, and experience selfless colleagues in your workplaces, know that the light of Christ is shining no matter how much we inadvertently try to blow it out. The power isn’t in us, but in Jesus.

Let’s make loving our neighbors great again. Let’s make the mission great again.

For my previous commentary on the #MeToo movement, go here.

To All The Women Who've Been Hurt By Men

(Originally posted in December 2017, appearing in the Western Recorder and Kentucky Today):

To all the women who've suffered at the hands of predatory men, in the workplace or elsewhere, thank you for your bravery in coming forward. The vast majority of sexual assault and rape never get reported due to fear of retribution. I'm sorry for your pain, and I pray we can one day live in a world where these instances are the exception and not the norm.

What has been difficult for me to reconcile, both to those who share my faith and to those who do not (and I love you all), is that you cannot live in a world that eulogizes Hugh Hefner and the sexual revolution while not expecting to end up with this kind of mess. 

This whole culture of objectifying women in magazines and media, of telling men that they can have as much sex as they want with whomever they want without consequence, has exposed an unhealthy power dynamic that predates all the way to original sin and distorts the way God has ordered the universe: how sex is not merely consensual, but covenantal; not simply biological, but bondable. Sex outside the sanctity of marriage will always lead to a measure of unfulfillment and brokenness because it isn't sealed with commitment. 

Guys, when we rate women on scales of 1-10 or sizes of 0-10, we completely miss the entire point of Proverbs 31: that favor is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman of character, one who fears the Lord, is to be praised. 

When we constantly vote for the lesser of two evils by excusing any notion of morality, we undermine the very values that we profess and claim to hold dear.

I can't for the life of me figure out how this culture thinks it is enslaving for women to hold to the views of Jesus (who was the greatest advocate for women the world has ever seen) but somehow "liberating" to publically remove one's clothing and put on bunny ears. And God help the men in this country who purchase lurid literature and are addicted to pornography, only serving to further tell the ladies in our lives that we will only measure them by outward appearances and not with the heart.

To all the women who have been hurt by men: you do not have to measure up to any of our hypocritical standards. God has created you in his image, and you are perfect in his sight. He has bought you with a price and he will glorify you through his spirit. Don't settle for guys who are jerks or pigs; you deserve so much more than their ungratifying expectations.

To all the men in this country: stop viewing women as objects and start viewing them as sisters. The sexual innuendo you espouse and the locker room talk you create only serve to make the world a harder place to be a woman (and it's way harder than it should be as it is). Stop thinking of the girl in the seat as your next conquest and start thinking about your daughters.

These thoughts are pretty raw, I'm sure I'll have to tweak them, but I pray to God that we will stop looking for meaning and satisfaction in anyone or anything other than him, because he is the only one who can ultimately satisfy our deepest longings. And regardless of whether or not you hold my views, I pray for a world where women are treated with respect and not shame. You deserve that.

My statement on #Charlottesville during worship on Sunday

My statement on #Charlottesville during worship on Sunday:

SBC 2017 Annual Meeting Highlights

One of the blessings of summer for me is attending the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Annual Meeting. We are a gathering of autonomous, theologically aligned (for the most part) churches who pool resources together for cooperative missions and ministry. We believe that like-minded congregations can do more together than they can separately through efforts such as national and international missions, theological education, and public advocacy, as well as disaster relief. The 2 day annual meeting (preceded by a pastors conference) takes place in a major U.S. city each year, usually on a rotating regional basis. This year’s annual meeting was held in Phoenix.

THE VIEW(S)

Upon landing in Phoenix, the first view you’ll notice is that the city is surrounded by desert mountains. I attended the last convention here in 2011, but had forgotten just how majestic those mountains really are. Perhaps the most famous of these landmarks is Camelback Mountain, aptly named because of its appearance. It’s located between Phoenix and Scottsdale. You can climb it if you drink enough water (and are in good enough shape). It’s hot here, but not with humidity. Instead of feeling like you’re in a sauna, it’s more like being in an oven. It’s not too bad, as long as you don’t stay directly exposed to the sunlight.

One of my favorite experiences here last time was visiting the Grand Canyon, so I went again this year for a second viewing. It never disappoints. We drove through Sedona (which is the way to go) with a great view of the Red Rocks and climbed the scenic mountain drive to Flagstaff. From there, we drove to the Grand Canyon (after getting detoured by a road closing due to a wildfire - we ended up on a memorable dirt road for about two miles). I didn’t take any photos this time, because the photos I took last time didn’t do it justice. You have to see it for yourself. It’s breathtakingly spectacular. 

THE PEOPLE

Undoubtedly, the best part about attending the annual meeting is reuniting with old friends and meeting new ones. This is my 12th Annual Meeting to attend (off and on since St. Louis 2002) and I’ve never left without making new friends. Among the highlights:

THE YOUNG LEADERS ADVISORY COUNCIL (YLAC) Dinner

The YLAC is a small group of young pastors and ministry leaders appointed by Dr. Frank Page to discuss ways and means toward bringing the next generation of leaders to the denominational table. We first met over inauguration weekend in ATL and had dinner together while in Phoenix. I’ve really enjoyed meeting each of these guys (and their respective spouses who attended the dinner). They’re sharp, kingdom-minded, and engaged in SBC life. They’ve been an encouragement to me. With folks like these serving across our country, I feel there is much hope for the future.

COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES

I’ve served on the associational (local) and state level, but this year was my first committee assignment on the national level (Yes, I know, Baptists do have a “Committee on Committees,” I’ve heard and made the jokes). The C of C actually does some legit work because we are responsible for appointing the Committee on Nominations, who then name the next slate of trustees for all SBC agencies and entities. In the past, the appointments weren’t considered a big deal, but when the authority of the Bible became challenged, conservative SBC leaders began ensuring that conservative appointments were made, a quarter century process commonly known as the “Conservative Resurgence.” I had the privilege of representing the Commonwealth of Kentucky this year, along with my colleague Nick Sandefur. I also got to stand on the SBC stage for the first time. That was fun. I wanted to take a selfie in front of the masses but feared that Steve Gaines or Barry McCarty might tackle me. One of my friends in the audience ended up taking a photo and sending it my way (thanks, Jacob!).

THE “SWORDSMEN” GATHERING

At the top of the list each year is our annual get-together of "Swordsmen,” men and women who have been called out to vocational ministry from Glendale Baptist Church under the 57 year leadership of our pastor, Bro. Richard P. Oldham (now with the Lord). It’s always great to hang with my tribe. I love these folks. They are family.

INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD (IMB) COMMISSIONING

This year the IMB held a commissioning ceremony for missionaries and their families. They are being sent all over the world for 3 year terms, and most of them won’t get to see their stateside families at all during this time. There were several missionaries commissioned in the background whose faces were dimmed by the lights because the countries where they are going are hostile to gospel witness. What a scene to see these brothers and sisters giving up everything to share about Jesus. It’s an incredibly moving time.

RESOLUTION

The SBC annual meeting usually generates press articles regularly during its sessions, but social media has given us a new challenge. This year, some extremists on the alt-right began posting extremely racist rhetoric while using the #sbc17 hashtag. After a couple of initial missteps, the Committee on Resolutions returned with a statement condemning racism while also proclaiming the gospel for all who would repent. It passed overwhelmingly and received a standing ovation. The best moment for me was looking back and seeing some of our African-American brothers and sisters in joyful tears over its passing. A convention founded in part on slavery now sits at the table of brotherhood with their descendants. Praise God.

VEGAS

This section isn’t nearly as much as the title makes it out to be. My return flight had a brief layover in Vegas. I saw the city (in the middle of the desert), viewed about 30 slot machines at the gate, then got back on the plane. What happens here...

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL (VBS)

One of the most encouraging things to me of the entire trip was the drive from Nashville (where I landed) to Hawesville. I saw no less than 3 different VBS meetings at various churches taking place. If we can keep the main thing, the main thing, I like our chances. The gospel always beats the odds.

I'm Not Like That

I don’t know how many times I’ve heard someone begin a conversation with: "I’m not the typical pastor" or “pastor’s wife.” "I’m a Christian, but not the stereotypical kind.” "I’m not that kind of person.” Fill in the blank with your own unique role. Beyond consuming ungodly amounts of fried chicken (pastor), deftly mastering the piano hymnal (pastor’s wife), or pre-empting the notion of appearing judgmental (stereotypical Christian), something about our nature wants to communicate that we’re different from the typecasts the culture envisions or the stage roles society thrusts upon us. Deep within the human heart is the desire to be accepted while being "authentic," to be recognized while standing out. 

I wonder sometimes, beneath the edifice of these surface phrases, if there doesn’t lie a subtle form of pride. We all know rebels who like to "go against the system" and admire those who "tell it like it is” or "stick it to the man,” but the Biblical notion of submission and identity goes beyond job descriptions, marketplace labels, or gender norms. The Gospel account of two men praying condemns the self-righteous Pharisee (God, thank you that I’m not like everyone else) while commending the humble tax collector (God, be merciful to me a sinner). Instead of constantly navigating the perennially unchartered waters of non-conformity, the Scriptures call us rather to a kind of conformity that looks less like dictionary definitions and more like calloused hands of a carpenter king. The king who laid aside his divine lineage and became a man, just like one of us. The carpenter who found his identity not by rebelling against the status quo but by transcending it. One of his best friends, John, later wrote about his experiences and meditated on what it would like to be reunited with him one day, along with everyone else who believed in his message and took up his cross: "Beloved, we know not what we shall be, but we know that we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” 

I pray that the older I become, the less worried I’ll be about other’s perceptions of my role, stage in life, or acceptance of my beliefs; I hope I’ll just want to be like Jesus, and see him as he is. Try fitting that scene in a box.

Young Leaders Advisory Council

A couple of months back, I had the privilege of attending the inaugural meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention's Young Leaders Advisory Council in ATL. Glad to be a part of this discussion, and hoping we can engage many younger leaders on the value of working together for cooperative missions. Full article here:

http://www.bpnews.net/48532

The Little Church That Could, Thanks To A Big God

THE CHURCH WITH A HEART FOR GIVING

Our church loves to give. It’s a tradition established long before any of us arrived on the scene, when a pioneer group of people moving to a frontier town along the Ohio chartered a small body of like-minded believers in 1836, the year before our town was officially founded in 1837. Their sacrifice has led to 180 years of gospel ministry.

We’ve given in good times and in bad. We’ve given when we’ve had plenty to give and when we’ve had nothing. We continued to give even at the turn of the 20th century when we were nearly forced to close our doors because there were no people and no money, but faithful people gave anyway. God blessed them for it.

Sometimes giving can be measured, but most often can only be weighed by the scales of eternity. Just this month we collected a grand total of 204 Christmas shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child between our two campuses. That’s the most we’ve ever collected. Who but knows of the children and families who will be impacted by the gospel through these gifts. 3 of those children who once received these boxes overseas now sit in our church every Sunday.

We’ve given thousands of dollars for adoptions and missionaries, had five figure checks written to cover transportation and facility costs, and, when we needed a demonstration of faith to step into the reality of a new building 3 years ago, God met us with $89,000 in a single day. The little church that could, thanks to a big God.

This past Tuesday at the annual meeting of the Kentucky Baptist Convention in Florence, several churches were recognized for milestone Cooperative Program giving (toward national / international missions, disaster relief, seminary education, etc.), usually at the $1 million, $2 million marks, etc. Out of curiosity, we called the state convention office to see how much our congregation has given over the years. Since 1928, beginning with $179, HBC has given $1,449,648.23 to missions through CP giving. This small band of believers in a small town with small means have nevertheless believed in the provision of a faithful God, for nothing is impossible with God. So we give, knowing that God will use our 5 loaves and small fish to feed multitudes.

Around here, though, giving isn’t just about money, although that’s certainly a part of our equation. We give in other ways too. We give through Worship, asking God that our worship and work be acceptable as an offering unto him; we give through Relationships and through Discipleship, seeking to invest in one another and in the next generation so that they might tell the story of the God who works through ordinary people in extraordinary ways; and we give through Ministry, showing God’s love to our community and our world so that we might share his love with others. We give to Jesus by serving his church and serving those he came to save.

If it’s true that you are never more like Jesus than than when you give, thanks for being like Jesus, church.

With Thanksgiving,

Barry E. Fields - Philippians 1:3-6

The Urban / Rural America Divide - Implications For Churches

If the recent election has taught us anything, it is the antithesis of Barack Obama’s 2004 Democratic National Convention speech that catapulted the then Illinois state senator to the national radar screen: the dividing lines are not between Red State and Blue State America, but between urban and rural America. So many from the working class went relatively unaccounted for in both national and state polling, so much so that we’ve arguably just experienced the biggest presidential upset since the infamous “Dewey defeats Truman” headline of 1948. 

Therein is a lesson for the church, as well. I grew up 1.5 miles outside the city limits of Bowling Green, KY, a city/county/university region of roughly 100,000 people at the time, but I’ve spent the last 9 years pastoring in rural areas, first in agricultural Larue County, KY, (population 14,000) and currently in industrial Hancock County, KY and Perry County, IN, where we have church campuses (combined population of 27,500). During this past decade, I’ve met some great people in these settings, folks who I consider to be “salt of the earth,” but I’ve also had to adapt much of the city-oriented methodology I’ve been taught over the years to work in the contexts where God has placed me.

My situation is not unique. In fact, of the roughly 50,000 churches in the Southern Baptist Convention, the vast majority of these congregations are located in rural areas. Even as people continue to migrate toward the cities at one of the greatest rates in recorded history, the “backbone” of our denomination, including Cooperative Program giving and on the ground resources, continue to reside in town and country rather than metros and suburbs. Most of the aspiring pastors graduating from our seminaries will more than likely spend a significant amount (it not all) of their ministry within these secluded settings.

Yet, the availability of educational resources to rural pastors is relatively low. Take a trip to a Lifeway bookstore or browse through Amazon and see how many books or studies offer assistance to the country or county seat church. Pastor’s conferences frequently advertised as “How to Turnaround Your Congregation” or “Ministering Within Your Community” address the needs of hipsters and urbanites while neglecting those serving the rural South and the Rust Belt. While I am incredibly thankful our mission boards are making a major push to infiltrate our cities with gospel witness, I’m also concerned that many of the 8 out of 10 churches that are stagnant or in decline in our denomination will be left behind, because the tools offered to them don’t fit within their respective mission fields.

I want to call our pastors, seminary professors, and denominational leaders to consider marshaling resources for churches outside the freeways and beltways. There is much untapped potential within these communities. Seminary students who are aspiring to move to a church located next to a Starbucks (and I get it): consider the regional impact you can have on a church off the beaten path. If the congregation you pastor can by God’s grace experience revitalization, could you not offer assistance to other churches within your association, churches that may not otherwise merit attention? What if God used you to not only shepherd your own congregation, but to offer life support to churches about to close their doors nearby? That’s what happened within our context along the Ohio River. A sister SBC congregation in Perry County, IN, was about to fold, but the Lord graciously worked a partnership between us so that we were able to relaunch it as the Indiana campus of our Kentucky congregation. We’ve gone from 12 to 70 in about a year in a county where that church was the only SBC presence for 19,000 people. There’s work to be done elsewhere.

Believe me, I understand the appeal of the glamorous lights of the city and the convenience of the suburbs, and there are times when I strongly miss living in that type of setting. When I look to the ministry of Christ in the Gospels, though, most of his shepherding took place in the out of the way, backwoods paths of Galilee, yet out of those communities disciples were reached who carried the salvific luster of salt and light to the regions beyond. I don’t know if there’s another Billy Graham out here, waiting to hear that message, but if he is, I intend to find him. God uses people like that to turn the world upside down.

The Old Log Church

Spent some time today at the Oak Forest Chapel in Riverside, KY, today, better known as the “Old Log Church,” the mission of my home church, Glendale Baptist in Bowling Green, since 1971. John Deakins the III has served as Missions Director at Glendale for several decades and has also served as pastor of the Old Log Church since Glendale began holding services there.

This place has so much meaning to me. We attended Vacation Bible School here every year as children (in addition to the Kids Krusade at Glendale), with accompanying revival services following the daily VBS in the evenings. I preached one of my very first sermons here at age 13, and often preached a night or two of the revival every year as a teenager, along with lots of other “preacher boys” out of Glendale. I also had the privilege of helping teach VBS classes here for several years (I mainly came, though, for the free cookies and kool-aid).

If you’ll look to the right of the church, those outer buildings are what the older generation refers to as “out houses.” That’s the only restrooms you’ll find at the Old Log Church, and during the summer time, we even entertained wasps as guests there. In the back is a well-worn cemetery, along with the shady oak forest, some of the oldest trees in Warren County. One of the ground graves used to be up very close to the right of the church along the back window (it has since been removed), and each night prior to the revival service we would kneel out there with our pastor, Bro. Richard P. Oldham, Bro. Johnny, and whoever else wanted to pray with us.

The two outside doors represent a time (1800s) when men and women both entered and sat separately during worship times. The building dates from the 19th century, and the wood on the inside is original. The wood floor slopes now, the piano needs tuning, and there are holes in the ceiling where a certain boy used to place the pointy end of the American flag pole during the pledges (don’t judge), but the spirit of God is present here. This is a place where many people have surrendered to Christ and been obedient to gospel ministry. It may not seem like much, but it is holy ground to those who have walked it. Thank God for the Old Log Church and for the community of Riverside, Warren County, KY.

Why Evangelicals Are Losing Millennials

I remember sitting on the couch in our family living room as a 13 year old middle schooler in the Fall of 1998. Our family had gathered around the tv to watch President Bill Clinton give a special address to the nation,  confessing to both adultery and to bearing false witness. We weren’t alone. Our pastor, Richard P. Oldham, who served as shepherd of our congregation for 57 years before his death, was also present with us, since he didn’t own a television set and preferred watching the Oval Office speech rather than tuning the radio. I had a profound respect for this man of God, even as a young boy. He often remarked in his sermons about being a “Franklin Roosevelt-Harry Truman Democrat,” even though he hadn’t voted Democrat in decades, as he regularly qualified those remarks with, “I didn’t leave the Democratic Party; the Democratic party left me.” I found myself visually split-screening the room watching the president and observing my pastor, trying to gauge his reaction. I expected to see anger on his face, but I saw something else instead: not anger, just a profound sense of disappointment. This man who had grown up in the Great Depression, whose brothers had fought in WW2, whose parents had no more than 8th grade educations between them but had lived to see their 5 children all earn master’s degrees and live out the American Dream, was now watching the political leader of our "shining city on a hill" taint its moral luster. 

He told his young people that what we did in private mattered just as much, if not more, as what we did in public, because the secret things of the heart would one day be revealed, and how one’s private life was conducted illuminated one’s public credentials, as well. We knew we wouldn’t be voting on pastoral qualifications for elective office, but we would be voting on people of character. We sensed deep in our souls that if a candidate’s wife could not trust his fidelity, how could his constituents possibly do so?

So many evangelical figures who we millennials grew up admiring, men and women who echoed these same values (several of whom attempted to impeach President Clinton) now seem prepared to abdicate those principles (at least in this election cycle) for what they describe as the “lesser of two evils.” They argue that Donald Trump, with all of his flaws, will somehow be a better president than Hillary Clinton, and surely we want to salvage what is left of the Supreme Court, they implore. I’ve never voted for someone who supports abortion in my life and never will as long as God gives me breath, but if I’m truly going to be pro-life in every area of life, neither can I endorse someone who condones sexual assault, who openly boasts of his sexual conquests and rates women on scales of 1-10, who consistently makes racist, homophobic, and misogynistic remarks, who’s been successful precisely because he has preyed on the working class and the poor through his bankrupt casinos and shady real estate transactions, who is now trying to convince those same people to vote for the very man who helped drag down this nation in large part because he “played by the rules," who energizes his constituency by manipulating their emotions of anger and fear rather than offering concrete plans and visionary hope, who has displayed no genuine evidence of contrition or repentance on any of these charges,  is nevertheless worthy of our ballots because “he’s not her.” Can I just ask the religious right and moral majority: at what point are you gaining the world while losing your soul? Is it really all that different from selling your birthright for a bowl of stale stew?

For those of you considering voting for Donald Trump, please know that I am not referring to you as “ignorant," nor am I calling you a “loser,” though “Mr. Trump" would certainly do that to me if I had more influence and name recognition. In fact, I hope we can remain on cordial terms regardless of the direction you end up voting. Anyone, though, who says "we cannot afford to sit this election out," had better be prepared to consider just how many principles they are willing to sacrifice in order to "win," principles for which our forefathers died. There are some things worse than losing an election, and that is sinning against one's conscience. My ultimate referendum is not standing before an independent ballot box, but standing before the judgment seat of Christ.

If character mattered then, surely it matters now.