Missionary Broadcasting.com

A good friend recently sent along an e-mail commenting on our Settle for This? post from March 18. By way of response, I sent this additional information that might help others who have read the article. Here is a slightly modified version:

I correspond/keep up with many people in the ministry. Recently I have been nothing short of alarmed by the authors and teachers they are recommending. It is not a matter of these men having nothing profitable to say at all, but more a case of their materials being vastly inferior to others written/provided by fundamentalists.

These pundits usually have one thing in common; they are popular. Some have sold hundreds of thousands of books and operate very large ministries. These guys are usually highly intellectual and pragmatic. They are higher class neo-evangelical types that operate on “sophisticated” outreach plans, usually relying on observation of the culture - then development of a ministry philosophy - then systematic execution. They discount our - preach God’s word faithfully and pray the Holy Spirit works in hearts - method as old-fashioned, unsophisticated and (worst of all) unsuccessful.

What’s the common denominator? Problematic, poorly formulated and many times unquestionably wrong doctrine.

There are some fantastic fundamentalist ministers around today. They are found at small Bible colleges, medium sized churches, and remote mission fields all over the world. Their teachings are more difficult to find, I understand, but the power of God shines through their every word. They give testimony of simple faith, consistent Bible teaching, and love for people. Their ministry is not accomplished by pragmatic methodology and study of cultural relevance, but rather by the power of God’s word in the heart’s of Holy-Spirit-prepared people.

Therefore, when I am asked to endure the heady research and intellectual formulation of another doctrinally questionable evangelical heavyweight, I ask myself, do I have to settle for this?

All that to say I generally agree with your statements on the subject. There is sometimes no harm at all in recommending a book by an author that violently disagrees with us. In fact, some of them are likely more Godly people than we are! To me, that’s not the main point. I am instead weary of being told that the “best and brightest” Biblical thinkers of today reside far outside fundamental circles. I find that notion unquestionably wrong and bordering on laughable.

We have made an attempt to clarify our position in the past few days by presenting the preaching of Dr. Rick Flanders. He makes the connection between belief and philosophy as well as anyone we have ever heard on the topic.

By way of follow-up to our most recent post on foundational ministry principles, I wanted to link you to a related article. Dr. Rick Flanders offers some very interesting perspectives of fundamentalism in an entry published by Sharper Iron on May 3, 2006. Its editor’s note gives us a clue as to how widely endorsed his philosophies may (or may not) be within fundamental Christianity.

While many of today’s generally conservative ministers bristle at Dr. Flanders’ assertions about (what he calls) young fundamentalists, I would rather tend to agree. Many critics of “how things used to be done” grew up in the fundamentalist movement, and have personal stories of dismay with individuals in their past. These emotional ties too often cloud the real issues and set people on a crusade to right perceived wrongs. This is a principle reason otherwise strong men of God look outside fundamentalism for input on ministry methodology.

I am not a product of the movement to which Dr. Flanders refers. Preachers I grew up admiring were generally old-fashioned, hellfire and brimstone types that sang hymns, knocked doors, and read from the King James Bible. All were Southern Baptist, though they didn’t particularly associate themselves with the convention at large, but rather held to Biblical conviction and called out compromisers no matter what label they wore. Did they get some things wrong? Definitely. Is it my job to correct their mistakes? Definitely not.

The fact of the matter is, most of the convictions they helped form in me came directly from scripture. Certainly I have chosen to do many things differently over the years, but I have never asserted the need for reforming their general methodology based upon changing cultural dynamics or my own inflated sense of sophistication. We are not smarter than those that came before us, and we do not live in a world that is so radically different that it should cause us to jettison proven philosophy and technique. Those insisting otherwise should take a very serious look at their motivation for doing so. They should also set out to prove their ways are measurably better, based on Biblical standards.

Today I am an independent, Baptist, fundamentalist with a traditional and conservative ministry philosophy. While I am frustrated I even have to list these qualifications, I fear it is all too often necessary in framing discussion. Unfortunately it is not enough to simply call yourself a fundamentalist today, as the range of thought among us is sometimes too “broad” to unite us.

I have begun to recognize a disturbing trend among some fundamentalist pastors and missionaries, though I was careful to make note of a large number of examples before I dared call it a trend. Some of best informed ministers I know have made excuses for it, perhaps even admitted its potential harm, then chosen to forge ahead despite the warning signs. They have offered a disclaimer beforehand, a litany of justifications during, and a tepid approach at regret afterward; all the while failing to admit it was actually a bad idea from the beginning. This “trend” has forced me to my knees and laid upon me a burden to know why.

How should a Godly minister determine what kind of Pastors, authors and speakers they recommend to others in the ministry? More specifically, should we promote, extol the virtues of, and heartily endorse those that deny fundamental Christian theology? These questions have weighed on my heart as I have been encouraged to embrace the teaching of prominent evangelical thinkers that, in some cases, reject sound doctrine and see the world through a lens that is anything but Biblical.

As a man who has spent a number of years in vocational service, only recently becoming convinced of a calling to the Pastorate, I am eager to hear the thoughts of those more experienced along this path. Therefore I pay close attention to fellow-laborers offering advice on philosophy and method. All too often however, I am pointed to materials written by men of questionable doctrinal foundation. “He may not agree with us doctrinally” they say or write, “but he’s got some good ideas about how we can reach people”.

Three specific examples come to mind in which the phrase “doesn’t agree with us doctrinally” was used. In the first a simple Google search revealed a nationally credible magazine article in which the author in question emphatically denied a six day creation and labeled conservative Christians (basically) dangerous. The second author/Pastor was criticized widely for using profanity in the pulpit, and the third writes openly of his acceptance of sign gifts and rejection of Biblical separation.

I have taken great pains to be vague, because all of these men’s ministries would be moderately recognizable and it is not my intention to call them on the carpet here. I am rather more concerned that respected fundamentalists find their philosophies more enticing than those with which they actually agree.

Can someone please explain to me (leave a comment) when doctrinal beliefs became irrelevant in the shaping of outreach philosophy? Are we to be persuaded that a lack of understanding or blatant rejection of orthodox Christianity has no bearing on a person’s methodology? Is a man that cannot even come to grips with the simplest matters of righteousness and doctrinal truth at the same time capable of grappling with the complexities of post-modern outreach theory?

You can answer these questions yourself without my even suggesting there is one, simple, definitive answer. I am instead concerned about a groundswell of support for questionable evangelical pundits by conservative friends and colleagues. Good rarely, if ever, comes of these bizarre endorsements, though I can recount situation after situation when they have caused confusion and dismay.

We have limited time in the day, and more importantly, limited time in life. Can we not instead direct young, eager-to-learn ministers to those who have first developed principled fundamentalist belief? Let’s reject the smug facade of “sophistication” and choose our endorsements and personal influences with care.

One final statement: doctrinal integrity will always lead to Biblical methodology, while doctrinal ambiguity leads astray.

I have rarely ever written a company to thank them for their service or product. I suppose I have to be really impressed with something before I feel the need to directly address its provider. Yesterday I wrote a heartfelt thanks to a business I just discovered on the internet. The music I purchased from them is more than just a product in my view, it is more like a gentle reminder of the transformation God has wrought in my life these past few years. I felt perhaps I ought to post it here to give you some insight on the changes that have taken place in our family since leaving the modern Christian radio movement.

Dear Friends at Sacred Audio.com,

I am writing this correspondence in the early hours of Christmas morning from Fairbanks, Alaska. I just became a customer a few moments ago, and I want to tell you how glad I am.

I received a gift card for Christmas that I had hoped to use for buying music. Therefore I went about searching the internet for quality Christian songs I could download. I must admit I found very few until I came upon your site.

My interest in these kind of sacred Christian songs is fairly new. I spent ten years in Christian broadcasting and was used to hearing mostly “contemporary” music. Then through a series of experiences and many hours in God’s word I was turned in a new direction. I am now a loving, but vocal critic of modern Christian radio, and the style of music it promotes.

I left Christian radio in 2003, and have purchased almost no music at all since then. I felt I needed some time to develop new guidelines for myself in this area before doing so. The three songs I purchased from you this morning make up the beginning of my “new” music collection.

If you continue providing your service, and God allows me to do so, I will purchase all my new songs from you. You provide high quality recordings in a convenient manner, at a good price. Best of all, the songs are Christ-honoring and consistent with Biblical principles. Thank you for being a part of my testimony. I will do all God allows me to do in recommending your service to others.

Sincerely in Christ,

Chris Harper

As I listened to the songs I purchased, I thought about all God takes us through in order to change our habits and tastes. I could have never understood a letter like this a few years ago. I chose then to listen to music I enjoyed, and had few thoughts about the philosophies they represented. Well, those days are forever over for me. Today I realize the responsibility I have to be circumspect in all I consume, understanding that worldly influences should have no hold on my life, even if they wear a Christian label.

I would encourage you to visit Sacred Audio.com, and perhaps download a few songs. You will recognize the difference in an instant, and possibly understand more fully my point. Those who are still confused may also want to look into a book I recommend called Why I Left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement by Dan Lucarini. It tells the author’s personal story of transformation from “Worship Leader” to defender of the conservative approach. I trust either resource will help you consider the matter more thoroughly for yourself.

(This article was originally published on December 26, 2006.)

This is not a political blog, and I am not planning on making it a political blog. My conviction is that believer’s should spend more time preaching the gospel, and less time promoting political change. Still, I can’t help but be confused and disappointed when prominent Christians lower their personal standards to support a politician who has, in their amateur opinion, “a better chance of winning”.

As for me and my house, we will vote based on conviction. Conviction that the murder of unborn children is wrong in any state, at any time. Conviction that marriage is between one man and one woman, for life. And…conviction that men of God should ask “what is best?” in the voting booth, rather than “what if she wins?”.

It was with these thoughts in mind that I came across this entry on the conservative Hot Air blog. Two minutes and fifteen seconds of straight answers from a former two-term Governor. If a man cannot be elected in the United States of America by speaking with this level of eloquence, understanding and conviction; our country has bigger problems than we had first imagined. So, before we jump to the conclusion that we must compromise in order to “gain power”, we ought to become educated on what (and whom) God has given us the opportunity to support. Those still inclined to bet one of the “horses in the lead” can consider themselves forewarned.

I am, by any measure, a conservative and traditional Christian. Growing up in church I attended a Sunday morning and Sunday evening service, along with a Wednesday night prayer meeting; all at which we sang hymns, and heard old fashioned preaching from an old King James Bible. On frequent occasions, we would also do some traditional ministry outreach, such as handing out tracts and (as we called it) knocking doors. If you’re waiting for me to explain how I have “matured” to the point of believing many of these things are irrelevant in modern culture, you can forget it! I am rather becoming more and more convinced that what we did back then is just exactly what is needed today.

That is why I was so wonderfully encouraged by an article I read yesterday, written by a man I have never met. His name is Travis Snode, and he serves the Lord as a missionary in Northern Ireland. I can’t explain just exactly why I was so touched by his post entitled Don’t Knock It, except to say that it brought back memories of knocking on an unknown door, at an unknown house, on an unknown street. It reminded me of the unknown response I would recieve from an unknown man or woman as I made a feeble attempt at either a gospel presentation or a church invite. I could almost feel the lump in my throat as I rapped on the first door, then could just as easily feel the calm setting in as I walked up the second, third, and fourth driveway. For certain it gave me a nostalgic moment, but it also caused me to remember the very real sense of accomplishment I felt when a lost soul showed up on Sunday because of my efforts. It was during those times that I first felt God’s leading into His full-time service!

If you wonder why I am bothering to explain in such emotional terms my reaction to a simple article, expressing nothing more than the everyday efforts of a faithful missionary; let me clear up the confusion. I am grieved to the point of tears over an attitude that is gaining ever-increasing momentum in some fine, doctrinally-sound churches. It shows no outward signs of rebellion, but makes slow and deliberate movements in anything but a traditional direction. It pats young men like myself on the head, and in condescending tones tells us to “get with the times”.

Well…after hearing me express the virtues of the traditional, you may also feel I should modernize. Remember you are reading a blog entry, written by a 31 year old man, who has spent the entirety of his adult life laboring passionately in the field of technology. Then acknowledge it is not simply the “new” that the traditionalist fights against. It is the replacement of the old with something that is not, by any Biblical standard, better.

Does anybody want to go out and knock some doors with me?