TALE OF TWO WORSHIP LEADERS

Based on the Parable of the Publican and the Tax Collector

 

Two worship leaders went to the altar to offer a song to The Lord, one well-learned, the other self-taught. The well-learned worship leader prayed to himself, “Thank God I’m not like those worship leaders at Bethel, Hillsong, Elevation or even this wannabe songwriter next to me. I scrutinize worship songs twice a week. I only use the best of the best, those rich with theology, that the elect might learn of your sovereignty.” The self-taught worship leader fell to his knees, raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, “Lord, I pray that this little song I wrote blesses you. Please receive it as my offering of praise. It’s a simple song, not so rich in theology, but it comes from the heart. I wrote it especially for you.” I tell you, this man left the altar more rewarded than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

WHO YOU CALLIN' COWARD?

 One term that has been misused and overused in recent years is “coward”. Popular public figures (who fail to understand the meaning of the word) use “coward” to belittle those who don’t see things their way. For example, if you don’t fall in line with a certain political view, or don't respond a certain way to a social cause, or don't support a specific political leader, you may be deemed a coward along with the rest of your kind. 

 

We saw heaps of this insanity throughout the pandemic. Christian brothers and sisters who chose to mask up were labeled ‘cowards’ by prominent figures. The debate over the effectiveness of masks is irrelevant to this conversation. What is relevant is intent. If the hope was to prevent the spread of a disease or to keep others safe, there’s nothing cowardly about that. When people act upon their convictions, and do so selflessly, most would call that noble. At the same time, there were those who chose not to wear a mask for noble reasons while others may have opted not to for less noble reasons. All this to say, one side wasn’t more courageous (or cowardly) than the other. Thankfully this is less of an issue today. I only use this example as it has given rise to a condescending mindset especially among some leading figures in the public arena.  

 

Initially, I thought this name-calling was done more to shame people who had their own perspective on things. But it’s more than that. Belittling language is used to rally the like-minded and manipulate the impressionable to join the ranks or be made a fool of. You may have noticed on social media feeds how effective belittling can be in today’s polarized climate. Hundreds of ‘likes’ flood the feed when popular personalities label those outside their bubble as fools, lunatics or cowards. Would these mockers dare say something that might cost them ‘likes” or followers? If they are celebrated Christian figures the cost gets even higher. There’s the risk of losing charitable donations, guest speaking opportunities or interviews. 

 

A final reason why some engage in name-calling is for the simple reason that putting others down makes them feel better about themselves. For example, by labeling one camp as “cowardly” suggests that I’m in the correct camp – the courageous one. For many public figures, it goes a step further. Their hope is to be the standard for courage, largely because that’s how they view themselves. This behavior is known in the world of psychology as grandiosity. Below is a description from Wikipedia:

 

“The term grandiosity refers to an unrealistic sense of superiority, characterized by a sustained view of one's self as better than others, which is expressed by disdainfully criticising them, overinflating one's own capability and belittling them as inferior; and refers to a sense of personal uniqueness, the belief that few other people have anything in common with oneself, and that one can only be understood by a few, very special people.”

 

No doubt, we’ve all encountered people like this even if we didn’t know the proper term for it. What’s more important is that we know how to recognize grandiose behavior especially when it comes to public figures we listen to or follow on social media platforms. Every word must be measured. Do they prop themselves up? Do they put others down? Are they harsh toward those who don’t share their opinions? The Christian will further ask, “Do they model Christ-like behavior?” Name-calling and belittling falls into antichrist behavior! So, when name-callers get hundreds of nods or likes or “Amens”, what you’re observing is more of a cult following than a Jesus following. Even when defending righteous causes, a self-righteous leader does more harm than good. He may rally the troops but he fails to win any from the opposing side. The echo chamber grows larger and louder but never reaches beyond its own walls. 

 

People in the public eye are by default role models. When they’re celebrated as people of faith, this becomes a crucial concern. Should they act in an unbecoming way, followers will mimic their behavior thinking it to be acceptable or even noble. We see a lot of this on social media as well. However, the standard for Christians is not some blogger, podcaster or popular preacher. We’re given a much higher standard in the person of Jesus Christ who bids us to love as He does. It’s a tall order, but there’s help from above, help from the Holy Spirit Himself. When filled with the Spirit we bear fruits of love with all its wonderful perks: joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.(Galatians 5:22-23)

 

These are the character traits that Christ possessed and that we are to model as His ambassadors to a lost and needy world. With the filling of His Spirit also comes the gift of discernment by which we can judge what is befitting character and what isn’t. Oftentimes this will mean we’ll be going against the flow. This also means you’ll be subject to ridicule and name-calling. But you’re in good company with Jesus who endured more than we ever will. 

 

 

Your Brother Isn't The Enemy

If there’s one thing we can agree upon it would be that 2020 has been a challenging year. We see a nation (and church) divided over some serious matters. Concerns over the coronavirus, a fallen economy, job losses and the “new normal” have given us all a punch to the gut. Everyone feels it, but in different ways.

I’ve been engaged in multiple conversations lately. Those I’ve talked to simply want to be heard and understood, even if we don’t agree on everything. I have found that listening goes a long way with most folks. It shows you care more about them than your opinions. 

 

Let’s face it, the specifics surrounding this pandemic aren’t so cut and dry. Our information sources and policy makers haven’t been the most consistent. On one hand, we’re told that gatherings for protesters are safe even without masks or social distancing. On the other hand, were told that gatherings for worshippers are unsafe regardless of masks or social distancing. Those who assert this also claim hydroxychloroquine is unsafe. Other medical experts say it’s not only safe but effective in treating coronavirus. These mixed messages lead each of us to draw our own conclusions. When such is the case, we land on separate sides of the fence with unique sets of concerns. One side wants their health protected while the other wants their rights protected, and so on. 

 

Personally, I have yet to take a solid position on the effectiveness of face masks or the use of hydroxychloroquine as a cure for covid. I’m still weighing the facts, which is hard to do for reasons already mentioned. I will say I am opposed to censorship when it comes to opinions that differ from the company line. But I’m more concerned about the hard line drawn in the sand between fellow believers. 

 

These enemy lines need to be removed. With love and grace, I believe they can be. I’m not suggesting we don’t have a real enemy. But it’s not your brother or sister. It’s that roaring lion, the devil, who seeks to devour us. What better way than to divide us? Not only is there a real enemy, there is a real battle being waged, not with flesh and blood, but against principalities and “spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

 

Spiritual battles require specific armor. Our feet must be shod with the gospel of peace. We also need the shield of faith. Then there’s the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. (See Ephesians 6) With these we are well suited for fighting against the very source of evil. But fighting amongst each other leaves us wide open for enemy attack, because these fights can only be fought in the flesh.

 

The need is great for the family of God to unite as one. We must look beyond nonessential differences and stand together in what we do have in common in Christ, the Captain of our salvation. Let’s take our marching orders from Him:

 

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:1214

 

Let us also be mindful of the prayer Jesus prayed shortly before His arrest:

 

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”John 17:20-21

 

How is it possible for the world to believe in Jesus when we’re divided? Is my stance on current affairs worth losing my testimony over? A major part of winning spiritual battles is winning souls. Our togetherness plays a key role in that. And every win for the Kingdom is a loss for Satan. 

 

We may stand on different sides of various matters, but we can still stand together with Jesus. He prayed that we would do so. May we all do our part in being answers to His prayer.

 

WHY THE MASK

In response to the increased covid cases in Texas (or positive test results) an order was issued by Governor Abbott, mandating that masks be worn in public places. This led to many churches closing their doors. Others opted to do as we have done at Calvary Austin, which is to require masks during services. Our decision was met mainly with support while a few took the news rather hard, voicing their opinions on social media. Along with their objections, many false assumptions were made about me and my reasoning for requiring masks at church. 

I’m perfectly okay with people disagreeing with me. There are too many unknowns about covid, or even masks, to expect full concurrence on what’s proven to be the most controversial issue of our day. Most of us accept that. Most of us. Not everyone. Some do get upset if you don’t see things their way. And the assumptions they make can be surprising. I was surprised by the assumptions made about me. 

One assumption is that the decision to require a mask at Calvary Austin was mine alone. I do assume responsibility for the final call, but staff pastors decided this together. Never would I have thought to be a lone ranger on such an important issue. That would’ve been foolish.

Another assumption was that I didn’t read Governor Abbott’s order thoroughly and missed the exemption for places of worship. In fact, I did read the order in its entirety, along with all the exemptions. I also read where it is stated masks are “strongly encouraged” in worship services. For churches, that means masks are an ask, not an order. For this reason, we made the requirement for masks more about love and less about the law. 

There was also the assumption that I’m worried about my own health because I must be immune-compromised. The truth is that I have a strong immune system. I’ve never missed a Sunday due to illness since I started preaching in the early 90’s, nor have I had a virus in decades. The decision for masks was not about me, but out of concern for the flock. Some have argued this point, insisting that face masks offer no benefit against the corona virus. They see the mask as part of a communist scheme that most are blind to. 

In writing my book Elsinore, I did extensive research on communism in America. In the Cold War of the fifties, there were many similarities to what we see today.  Communist party members were known to stir up racial issues to gain a foothold on the government. They also launched attacks against public leaders, and in remote cases, took over their seats of office. During this time, there was also what’s known as the “red scare”. People were so afraid of a communist takeover, anyone with a reddish complexion was suspect. Many lost jobs because they were wrongly accused of having communist ties. Anyone who leaned slightly to the left was prone to investigation. Reputations were damaged that didn’t need to be. This is another similarity I see. The mask has brought back the red scare. Anyone that would require a mask is now suspect. They may not be a communist; they just don’t know a hammer and sickle when the see one. Perhaps in thirty years we’ll look back at 2020 the same way our fathers did at the fifties. The fear of communism did more damage in America than any communist regime.

While some don’t go so far as to link face masks to a communist agenda, they might see it more as a party issue between Republicans and Democrats. Personally, I see face coverings as a health issue, not a political one. Debates on their usefulness would be more productive if politics were left out. Of course, not all agree on this point. And because I have succumbed to the mask, I’m branded as a sell-out to the left. Our decision at Calvary Austin was not influenced by anyone’s political leanings. Personally, I’m about as apolitical as one can be. Neither party dictates where I stand on any issue. I have the Word of God for that. To quote a friend, I don’t follow the donkey or the elephant. I follow The Lamb. 

One final misconception is - I must feel that face masks are the best way to go. In all honesty, I’m not 100% positive. A good case has been made for immune-herding. I would even be in favor of trying it. However, herding also takes cooperation from the masses, just as wearing face coverings does. For now, the chosen course is the dreaded mask. I do concede that arguments against it are as convincing as arguments for it. So far, the “for” sounds more compelling to me than the “against”. And as a pastor, I’m in no position to gamble with the lives of others. Nor are my fellow pastors. Therefore, we agree to the mask. Just for an hour. Once a week. On Sunday. I like to believe we’re helping. It can’t hurt to try.

Again, I don’t expect everyone will come to full agreement on every issue surrounding covid or masks. All I ask is that we be kind and not judge those who don’t share the same opinion. It’s time to dial up the love and to show humility, grace and understanding.

Agape,

P. Terry

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-8

FROM THE EYES OF AN OLDER WHITE GUY

As cities, communities and churches confront the issue of racism, I have struggled with how to best express my own thoughts. Listening before speaking proved to be the wisest advice out there. The last thing I want to do is shift the attention on me or how I feel. Nor do I want to minimize the struggles of those who carry burdens heavier than my own. With that stated, I think I’m ready to speak. Let me begin by saying, I hate what happened to George Floyd. Watching the video of his brutal killing, and hearing him cry “mama” in his last dying breath, had me gut-wrenched. 

I prefer to believe we live in a world where these types of things don’t happen. I want to believe racism no longer exists. I realize that’s more dream than reality, but I’d like to believe Martin Luther King made a difference, and things have improved for black America. It seems that’s the struggle for many whites. We truly want to believe that and have a hard time being told otherwise. Perhaps this is one of the biggest hurdles in the discussion of racism – helping whites who don’t feel they’re racist see the racism that others may see. It was easier to spot in the 60’s and 70’s because racists were more open about it - at least from what I observed back then. 

I grew up in a single-parent home in Van Nuys, a suburb of Los Angeles, California. We bounced around to various neighborhoods, all of them middleclass white. There was a total of three African Americans in my elementary school, two brothers and a sister. The sister, Roxanne, eventually became my girlfriend when we grew to be teenagers. We remained together for several years. My mother was not keen on our relationship and my brother gave me a hard time about it. Besides that, we didn’t suffer much abuse, except for one time at a party. A lowrider, much bigger than me, assaulted Roxanne with racial remarks. When I stood to her defense, he sucker-punched me. Others quickly grabbed him and tossed his racist butt out the door.

In 10^th grade I took a job at a steakhouse where I continued to work after completing high school. It was a blended work environment and everyone got along well. We all loved our boss, Riley Brown, who was African American. I especially looked up him. Only one time in my years of working for him did he ever snap at me. He quickly apologized afterwards and put his arm around me. My affection for him only grew deeper after that. Riley was always good to me. He was good to everyone. And in that happy bubble, I convinced myself that what I experienced at the steakhouse was America. But I was wrong.

After graduating broadcasting school, Roxanne and I moved to a small town in Northern California where I took a job as a disc jockey. Little did we know it was an all-white community where we would see racism on full display. I was not allowed to play black music at the radio station I worked at. I learned this quickly after putting Stevie Wonder on the turntable. The general manager tore into me like a bat out of hell, his rant filled with one racial slur after another. When it was discovered I was living with an African American, I was given a hard time for that as well. Roxanne wasn’t allowed at the station. The boss said he’d know if she visited by her “smell”. 

After only a couple of months, we were evicted from the trailer we rented. A three-day notice was tacked to our door. The property manager apologized saying it was the owner’s decision. We tried appealing to him for more time. He said, “Yer kind ain’t welcome here.” He was right. When I got fired from the radio station, the same reason was given. 

As indicated earlier, racists back in those days were anything but bashful. For the most part, that seems to have changed, which makes white people feel the world is a better place. Deep down I want to believe that. Most of the time I do. I pastor a church where people of diverse backgrounds enjoy sweet fellowship together. My wife and I live in a blended neighborhood free of racial tension. In the house to our right lives a young African American woman. To our left is a Hispanic lady. I didn’t have that in the 70’s. Yes, things have changed! At least in my neighborhood. But I can’t speak for every neighborhood. And there lies the problem for many: we base our truth on personal experiences. We assume racism isn’t a real issue based on the notion “it’s not in my neighborhood.” 

This is where a conversation would help. Sadly, politicians and various media outlets haven’t made it easy for us. Racism is often exploited to further a political agenda. This only breeds suspicion among whites, especially white conservatives. 

I don’t claim to have all the answers nor would I want to misspeak on such an important issue. I can only say I’m grieved by what’s going on in our world today. I want to use my influence in a way that is helpful. I’d love for hearts to change and healing to happen. But, like so many others, I grapple with what is helpful and what isn’t. For now, I only know to mourn with those who mourn and be as understanding as possible. Perhaps that’s a good place for many of us to start. Rather than listen to news spin, let’s listen to those struggling to be heard. Not every neighborhood is the same. Not everyone’s experience is the same. But together we can reach for the same dream – a better world where we recognize one another as fellow image-bearers of the living God.

CALVARY AUSTIN UPDATE

Dear brothers and sisters,

We had a wonderful service last Sunday. Christy and I especially enjoyed seeing everyone’s faces. We missed you dearly over these past weeks. If you we’re unable to make it to our service, I hope you caught it online. We recognize that it will be awhile to have the entire body back together again. In the meantime, we’ll continue to livestream on our website and on Facebook. 

While under phase one of Open Texas, state recommendations for church gatherings will be followed. Thankfully, we have a large facility that makes it easy to maintain social distancing requirements. Chairs are spread throughout the auditorium, allowing families to sit together while maintaining safe distance from others. Everything is sanitized. Masks and hand sanitizer are made available. Until the greenlight is given from state officials, we will continue with family style services and hold off on opening the children’s wing. The worship, message and length of service are all family friendly. We also have activity kits for the little ones. 

                                          

For those who are high risk or with symptoms of illness, you can still enjoy services in the comfort of your home at live.calvaryaustin.com or Facebook. We encourage you to interact with others watching online.

Until further notice, we will have one service at our church facility at 10:00am. We will also be livestreaming at that time. If for any reason technology doesn’t cooperate with us, we will post a recording of the service at noon.

Thank you for doing your part in keeping our community safe. Your prayers are appreciated.

In His Love,

P. Terry

LIGHT UNDER LOCKDOWN

I think it’s safe to say, all of us are concerned about COVID19 and how it has abruptly changed the world around us. Life just isn’t the same, is it? We’re left with a huge pile of uncertainties, making something as trivial as a dinner date impossible to plan. 

While these are challenging times for everyone, I can only speak from my own experience, one which other pastors and church leaders might relate to. Each of us are faced with difficult decisions: when to meet, how to meet and how to prepare ahead of time. It’s no simple matter. There’s much to consider and no one I know is making these decisions lightly. Although each of us want the best for God’s people, we have not all reached the same conclusions as to what that is. The big hurdle is the lockdown. Some feel it hurts more than it helps. Others insist the opposite is true. So rather than swing church doors open, we open with caution or not at all.

It’s not just church leaders dealing with these issues. No one is excluded from the conversation. Lockdown has created a social media frenzy with posts and reposts of why we should or should not accept what’s called “the new normal”. A clear line has been drawn and tensions are high. “Stay Home!” is one prevailing message. “Open up!” is the other. It seems we’re at an impasse. Both standpoints raise valid concerns and both are worthy of consideration. 

This brings us to the unspoken inner struggle of many pastors today - bringing peace between two sides that are each passionate about their respective positions. This is a whole new ballgame for us. It’s not like settling theological differences between fellow believers. We can disagree on doctrine without passing a virus. That’s not the case with COVID19. There is no safe response and each response matters. How I deal with this virus affects others, and how they deal with it affects me. Sadly, there are no easy answers. Even more sadly, we’re left with a lot of emotionally charged discourse.

The purpose of this article is not to declare which viewpoint is more correct than the other. That would only fuel more division. My hope is to build unity among believers. The sparring I see on social media truly breaks my heart. Clearly, we don’t see eye to eye on the matter, but we can still stand together in love. If we can’t do that, it might be best for church doors to remain closed until we can. I suspect some may stay home regardless. Not for fear of catching a virus, but for fear of seeing someone they disagreed with on Facebook. Based on what I’ve witnessed, it wouldn’t surprise me at all.

Perhaps this might be a good time to review 1 Corinthians 13, often referred to as “the love chapter”. It was written to believers who were also in conflict with each other. The chapter ends with: “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

As we face this present pandemic, are you walking in faith? Do others see you as having hope? More importantly, are you showing love, even to those you disagree with, or those intolerant of your views? In times like these, it’s crucial to remember who we are in Christ and how best to represent Him to the world around us. These are dark and difficult times. Let us not put faith, hope and love on lockdown. With these three we can overcome any crisis, even COVID19.