Is There a Crisis Among Pastors?

According to some we are facing a great and growing crisis among church leaders. It is great because the failings and weaknesses of a single pastor/leader affects hundreds of members in addition to the leaders and their families. Second, in addition to the human cost there is an enormous financial cost when leaders fail. I recently wrote to some of our supporters.

I am deeply concerned about the health and influence of Christians and the church. I was called from CHPC in 1989 to develop LifeWay Counseling Centers. Ever since I have helped hundreds of distressed, wounded and ineffective Christian leaders. Many who seem successful in religious life are at a crisis at home, church and soul. Some face exhaustion, sexual involvement, financial disaster and congregational conflicts. Some of my best friends have succumbed to divorce and scandal because they refused to ask for help. It goes without saying that a church with such leaders cannot be healthy.

During my sixteen years with CHPC I learned the necessary ingredients of leading a thriving congregation. We had a great staff, strong elders and turned on laity. They taught me numerous lessons about organization, purpose, planning, focused priorities and the importance of staying spiritually healthy. CHPC invested heavily in its leaders and I spent hundreds of hours counseling and equipping leaders at our sister churches. Even so, most churches cannot thrive without ongoing consultation.

I presently coach and counsel a significant number of struggling ministers and elders, coming along side them at life-changing times. I see them during church splits, moral crises or family dissolution. Boomer leaders are especially vulnerable to burn out, confusion and spiritual crisis. Confidential, safe and capable expertise is hard to find. This summer I calls from several leaders who asked for help from people who led them into catastrophic results. Now it may be too late to save them and the church from disaster.

To whom can a pastor or elder go for help when problems arise at home or with a parishoner? Several men discovered that people they thought were able to keep a confidence gossiped and destroyed a solid career. This is why I offer my confidential counsel, wisdom and prayers when a crisis occurs.

Calls come to me from all over the USA and the world from missionaries, pastors, evangelists and Christian counselors have gotten themselves into embarrassing and sometimes sinful problems. Adding to the crisis is the fact that few places are safe for them to go and even fewer people have the clinical expertise to unravel the web of deceit, marital pain, church anger and depressive symptoms.

As a Clinical Counselor I have both training and expertise in working with church and family systems that are deeply bruised and facing a loss of hope. I am also deeply committed to health of everyone concerned. Without a healthy leader the church cannot be strong; without a strong church the world will never hear the gospel and outreach, discipleship and missions will fail.

A healthy church family is critically important to society and the Kingdom of God. It is the goose that lays the golden eggs for Christian growth.

What is a Fundamentalist?

This term is one of derision and misunderstanding in today's world for it is devoid of an accurate meaning. In the early part of the 20th Century many theologians and preachers were challenging the authority and accuracy of the Bible. As science gained ground in American schools and seminaries the Bible was assumed to be less reliable by some leaders.

This view naturally led doubts about Creation, Jonah and the whale, the Virgin Birth and the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Those who held a "High View" of scripture reacted by reaffirming that there are certain "FUNDAMENTALS" of the Christian faith. One writer who vigorously presented these views was Curtis Lee Laws who coined the term "Fundamentalism" and spread its meaning around the nation.

A broad spectrum of Christian leaders like the term and joined in a wide group who promoted the fundamentals and fought against "Modernist/Liberal" ideas that attacked the Bible and historic Christian doctrines such as salvation by faith in Jesus' death and resurrection. Modernist leaders called the cross a "Bloody religion" and rejected it in favor of "Caring and peace".

These folks also rejected modernist tendencies among Christians such as movies, smoking make up on women, dancing, drinking, etc.

In England a Fundamentalist is described not on anti-modernist views but solely about one's commitment to the fundamentals of the faith. In America, this would be called an Evangelical. So, fundamentalists and Evangelicals will agree on theology but may disagree on social issues.

At this time in our history we are very confused about the differences because both Evangelicals and Fundamentalists are together on some social and political issues such as gay marriage and prayer in school. We neeed to carefull describe who we are and what we want to promote and/or restrict lest we become ensnared in political issues at the cost of our evangelistic success.

The term Evangelical means more than someone who "evangelizes" or shares his faith. It describes a group that agrees with certain theological commitments. My doctoral dissertation was on the topic of developing a pastoral care and counseling system for Evangelical churches. I describe an Evangelical as one who subscribes to the historic faith found in supernatural Christianity and a search for truth that includes scientific inquiry.

The Left Wing and Fundamentalists

One thing about the left wing media such as the Washington Post and the New York Times dueing the recent election. They cannot stand us but do not really know why. Almost every article I read and every leftist pundit I heard who spoke about the values of Evangelicals in the election were wrong.

• Most cannot describe what qualifies us to earn such a name.
• None that I heard can distinguish an Evangelical from a Fundamantalist
• Most do not know the difference of Christian conservatives and Islamic Fundamentalists
• Many say they wish to attract us to their political party and start the wooing by calling us dumb, stupid, evil and easily read. They also add to that, "mean, racist and hateful". Then they cannot understand why we do not join their party.

Maybe we can discuss these issues later but for the present I will simply paste in the abstract from one the most famous psychologists in America, Martin Seligman. Read what he has to say about conservative/fundamentalist religions.


Abstract from Optimism and Fundamentalism
by Marvin Seligman, Ph D

Explanatory style from nine religious groups, representing fundamentalist, moderate, and liberal viewpoints, was investigated by questionnaire and by blind content analysis of their sermons and liturgy.

Fundamentalist individuals were significantly more optimistic by questionnaire than those from moderate religions, who were in turn more optimistic than liberals. The liturgy and sermons showed the parallel pattern of optimism.

Regression analyses suggested that the greater optimism of fundamentalist individuals may be entirely accounted for by the greater hope and daily influence fundamentalism engenders, along with the greater optimism of the religious services they hear.

Dr. Seligman is not a fundamentalist and has served as President of the American Psychological Association.

Moral Values and Christianity

Mark Daniels writes a great blog about many topics. However, as a Lutheran Pastor Mark regularly discusses tough issues. For 20 years I have taught in the workshops, seminaries and conferences of Lutherans in Norway, Sweden and Denmark They are a verychallenging audience when I talk about values. The Lutherans are well trained to think theologically and always return to the issue of grace. I have learned a lot from them andthink you will find Pastor Mark's remarks well-written and insightful.

I hope some of you will read his blog

http://markdaniels.blogspot.com/2004/11/what-about-Christian-faith-and-moral.html

With all the noise about the election and morality it is a very needed article.

Church and Blood Pressure

Right now I am experiencing rather high blood pressure. I am not sure why but I am looking at two possible sources.

1. Maybe my prayer life is not as vigorous as it could be and needs to be to say peaceful. Jesus promised us peace if we would abide in him. I believe that is true because I have experienced more peace when I am attending church regularly and engaging in prayer, worship and Bible reading.

When I experienced severe chest pains on a flight to Singapore a doctor was discovered on the flight and he found my blood pressure to be very, very high. I told him to leave me alone for town minutes and my pressure would be lower when he returned.

"What are you going to do?" he asked. "Pray in the Spirit," I said. I prayed and it did come down.

2. I am in a special research study that requires me to take some new medicine. I am afraid it has a bad side effect that causes higher pressure.

In either case I know that worship is good for me. Just look at the following article.

People active in the church and who study the Bible appear to have lower blood pressure than people who are less religiously active, according to a new study from Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. examined the health and habits of people 65 and older over a 6-year period. They found that people who attended religious services at least once a week showed lower blood pressure readings than folks who attended less often.

Researchers also found that people who tuned into religion programs on television or radio had higher blood pressure than those who did not. Dr. Harold G. Koenig tells OnHealth that finding may be due to the fact that people who resort to broadcasted religious programs may be too old or too sick to leave the house.

"Involvement in the religious community may have very important health benefits," Koenig says. "Religious people cope better with stress," which may explain why they have lower blood pressure, he adds findings arrive when many studies have linked religion to better health. Koenig says he's not recommending doctors to convert or prescribe religion for patients, but to be aware that faith can be a factor in one's health. The study appears in the summer issue of International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine.

So, prayer, worship, study and fellowship are actually good for my body as well as my soul! And, as my dad would say, "All that benefit for only a couple of dollars a week."

American Beliefs and Healthy Living
© Gary Sweeten

What are the deepest beliefs of Americans? Why are so many national politicians shocked by the fact that so many of us are interested in voting?

According to most polls the majority of us come from a Christian tradition. About 42% of all Americans attend religious services weekly. Some 95% of Americans believe in God. This is more than those who attend all professional sports in an entire year.

So, why is there so much news about sports and so little about spiritual matters?

In 1985 George Gallup found that 72% of Americans said that My whole approach to life is based on my religion. (This includes politics!)

We are the most religious western nation in the world. This is shocking because the country is divided 50/50 in politics. America, for all her weaknesses, is a religious nation.

One wag noted that India is the most religious country in the world and Sweden the least. America is a bunch of Indians ruled by Swedes.

Research shows that 91% of blacks, 93% of Hispanics and 88% of whites report a religious affiliation. Even more startling is the numberof regular attendance:

51% of blacks,
48% of Hispanics
43% of whites

attend services weekly or more often.

Sixty four percent (64%) of blacks in the national sample were members of religious communities (churches)

Fifty nine percent (59%) of whites and

Forty three percent (43%) of Hispanics. Participation in religious activities outside weekend services is also high with 47% blacks, 41% whites and 31% Hispanics saying they are in church during the week as well as on Sunday. (See Social Capital @ http://www.cfsv.org/communitysurvey/results6.html)

In a nation obsessed with racial and cultural diversity the facts about minorities and religious faith have been strangely absent from the dialogue.

One statistic about African American longevity and church attendance makes the absence of a good dialogue especially puzzling. The data are rarely mentioned in the debates about faith based organizations.

An article by Hummer et al in Demography Journal, 36:273-285 in 1999, Blacks who attend church live much longer than those who do not.

Attendance+++++++++++White expectancy+Black expectancy
Never++++++++++++++++++++77 Years+++++++67 = 10 year difference
Weekly or Less+++++++++++++80 Years+++++++75 = 5 year difference
Weekly or more+++++++++++++83 Years+++++++80 = 3 year difference

Whites who attend services more than weekly gain an average of six years in longevity.

African Americans who attend services weekly or more gain a whopping 13 years in life expectancy. The normal difference in longevity of Blacks is almost completely eclipsed by church attendance. In fact, attending church more often than weekly raises Blacks life expectancy to that of whites who attend weekly or less.

Is it not racist to fail to encourage Blacks to develop religious commitment?

It is malpractice and wrong not to encourage both Blacks and Whites to attend religious services.

Is the ACLU promoting sickness by attacking religious freedom?

Are Evangelicals Just Like the Taliban?

Wow! The red hot rhetoric during the political season has brought out a lot of strong critics of Evangelical Christians. When many voters said they supported Bush because of "Values" a lot of Left Wing Democrats became very upset.

Since I wrote my doctoral dissertation on Evangelical theology I observed this phenomenon with great interest as well as astonishment at the heat and ignorance displayed by all sides. Perhaps both the anger and the lack of knowledge come from TV talking heads who book only politicians on their shows to speak about the interests of Evangelicals.

Oh how I longed to get on some of the shows myself. I wanted to tell them a few things about my values as an Evangelical Christian. One of the most disturbing facts that emerged from the debate has to do with the fact that most politicians misunderstand us and the effect of Christian faith on our behavior. In fact, many of our own leaders do not understand the benefits of faith in Christ.

First, Christians who "Walk the talk" as well as "Talk the walk" live longer, healthier and happier lives. Even the poll taker George Barna does not report the data and benefits accurately. He says that Believers are just as likely to divorce as atheists. This may be true and it has a simple explanation. As St. James said, "Faith without works is DEAD!"

For those who "Talk the walk" but fail to "Walk the talk" conflict and pain are inevitable.
Many research studies show that Christians who attend church weekly or more divorce about one half as often as those who attend less than weekly. The key is not salvation but commitment and fellowship with learning and worship.

I recently wrote and presented a paper for the Children's Hospital Psychiatric Department. In it I covered many of the studies about the effects of faith on mental, emotional and physical health. I will present some of the more interesting results on those blog in the future. It will motivate you to prayer and worship.

And, what about us fundamenatlists being just as mean and bitter as the Taliban? That accusation is a lie.

• Every charity hospital in the world can be traced to Judeao-Christian ideals.
• Almost all advances in the compassionate treatment of women and children come from the Bible.
• The freedom of slaveworldwide can be traced to Christians.
• etc
• etc
• etc
• More later
  
  
  
  
  

Thanksgiving 2004 and George Washington

Many national politicians strongly argue that the USA is a secular nation. Some are so REACTIVE that any public display of religion and/or spiritual life is met with horrified screams about the necessity of the "Separation of church and state". (Reactivity is a hysterical, overly emotional reaction to an insignificant event.)

I would like to remind everyone to take a deep breath, calm down and think clearly for a moment.

1. A political office holder who prays, sings and attends church is not a "church" so any private, personal act is not establishing a church.

2. When the government's organization such as the Boy Scouts uses the term, "God" it is not setting up a church.

3. A church is an officially organized body like Episcopalian or Roman Catholic Denominations.

4. Separation of church and state means that the government cannot establish a national denomination. Many European countries have official, tax supported denominations. I know of no Evangelical or fundamentalist who wants a state, tax supported denomination.

Let us celebrate George Washington's faith while recognizing that he is not setting up a denomination's church

As our nation celebrates Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, it is helpful to remember what our first president said about Thanksgiving Day on October 3, 1789:

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour;

and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be;

that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war;

for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;
for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;

to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually;

to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed;

to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us);

and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord;

to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us;

and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington

Politics and Personal Faith

I am a passionate believer in Christ and the church. I am also a passionate believer in the separation of any particular church or denomination and the state. However, I am completely dedicated to using Judeo-Christian values to judge our laws.

The early years of American colonial life were the marked by an amazing lack of religious and church going fervor. Pioneers, men searching for easy fortunes and women of poor virtue swarmed to the New World in search of easy money, escape from oppressive families or a new start. For most, church attendance was not the way to get any of those things.

In those early years we also saw the only time in our history when we had the state paying to support a particular church/religion. The strongest Christian denominations in the Colonies were Episcopalians and congregationalism (The Puritans) They got the colonies to pay their clergy and build their churches.

The Presbyterians were the third largest denomination but refused to take any tax monies from the government. They had fought hard to be liberated from England's control and they were not about to return to state control just because of a few dollars.

The Baptists were few and far between in the early days and refused to allow the state to have any influence over them or their budgets.

We must recognize that separation from finances and governmental oversight did not mean a lack of influence of religion and God from the state. The Colonists had suffered greatly in Europe and Great Britain because the state promoted a specific denomination. England was Roman Catholic at first but pulled away to become Anglican/Episcopal. This resulted in a series of wars.

The Scots desired freedom and Protestantism and the Catholic rulers in London fought them. Luther, Calvin and many others fought over freedom of religion and freedom of political ideas.

Many Europeans fear the religious instincts of American politicians for good reasons. The fear that we want a return to a theocracy. Nothing could be farther from the truth for most of us Americans.

Americans tend to approach faith in a personal way. Personal prayer, personal worship, personal conduct. However, we also want to apply our core values to law and government.

Europeans and some American Liberals tend to approach religion from a group perspective. While conservatives by and large think of people and religion Liberals tend to see Politics and legal constraints. This sets us up for great misunderstanding.

Posting and Resting

I have not been very active on the blog the past few weeks. The election and moving offices have kept me busy and I have not been feeling well.

I have struggled with the gunch gunch, a mysterious disease that causes aches, pains, coughing and a sore throat. In addition I have experienced for the first time in my life high blood pressure. 10 days ago it was 181 over 89!

I have also started a new blog on another channel. It will focus on the Care and Cure of the Soul and can be accessed at

http://soulcare.typepad.com

This has been my passion for many years and I have attempted to teach pastors, missionaries and leaders how to improve their skills at this craft.

I will continue to post random thoughts on growth, healing, renewed thinking, politics and prayer while using the other site to teach about the ancient art of seelsorge: caring and curing the soul.

A kid in Arizona wrote the attached

NEW School prayer.


Now I sit me down in school

Where praying is against the rule

For this great nation under God

Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,

It violates the Bill of Rights

And anytime my head I bow

Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,

That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.

The law is specific, the law is precise.

Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall

Might offend someone with no faith at all.

In silence alone we must meditate,

God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,

And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.

They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.

To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,

And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.

It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,

We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,

Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,

No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,

When chaos reigns the school's a mess.

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:

Should I be shot;
My soul please take,

AMEN!