Shark week is something that comes around every summer (for the last several years at least) toward the end—about the time when everyone takes their last trip to the beach and their guard is down. Just when everyone thinks it’s safe to go into the water…
BAM!
It happens. At least that’s what the producers of Shark Week want us to believe. Fear of the shark, it would seem, is big business. And I have to admit it was mesmerizing this year. My daughter especially was riveted by the drama. We watched much of it together—popcorn in hand, lights down low, and a fascinating, train wreck like curiosity keeping us on the edge of our seats. I have to admit, it was TV drama at its finest.
Only they got it wrong by at least a week. I think this week (August 24th – ?) would have been a far better representation of shark week than last.
Of course I’m taking about a different sort of danger altogether. I’m talking about the sharks in sheep’s clothing—the armchair quarterback Christians who circle whenever they hear a rumor that a Christian leader may be in trouble. Time to get out the pitchforks and torches—we’re marching tonight!
With the actual series they saved the best for last—a truly massive shark nicknamed, Submarine capsized a boat of tourists and had them trapped 50 feet underwater as a desperate rescue attempt was underway—a real race against the clock!
The Christian version did the same thing. I heard of no less than 3 pastors in the past several days who are hanging by a thread while the masses determine which form of public execution best fits. Oh, and they saved the best for last—Mark Driscoll is clearly the season finale.
This morning I awoke at 5:00 am and meant to start my day with the Lord but made the mistake of looking at my email first.
Big mistake.
Their was an update from “ChurchLeaders.com” with the bold caption, Tim Challies: What Mark Driscoll Missed About Ministry. My heart sank. And then I read it. Then my heart sank even further.
Then I got angry.
Followed by more sadness.
My first reaction was to want to write a blog—something like, “Rob Singleton: What Tim Challies missed about Grace.” Seriously, I just wanted to scream, “Don’t we understand how ridiculous we look to a lost and dying world when we circle our own and are constantly out for blood?! Does it really bring that much relief to our tortured souls to bludgeon a fellow minister to death in the court of public opinion?”
I guess so. I mean, if the shear volume of comments and articles is any indication—I’d say American evangelicals are just about addicted to outrage.
Christianity today actually did an article about this alarming trend called, “Outrage Porn.” It’s a shocking title, but let’s face it, what’s happening is pretty shocking as well.
And, heaven forbid you defend the guy (or anyone else under suspicion of not actually being Jesus)—the sharks will just take you for a wounded tuna and before you know it—you’ll be nothing but fish bones descending to the bottom of the ocean.
I know. I started a blog series a couple weeks ago entitled, “Wolf Pack” and I’m ashamed to say I pulled it (Waiting for a better time to publish it) because I’ve been harassed by wolves nonstop for the last couple years and I just wanted a break. I know, pretty wimpy really—but all the fending off and late night watches for wolves can flat out wear you down.
But now is not the time to sit in a corner and pout. I have brothers and fellow pastors who are hurting—bad. They’re questioning whether they made any difference at all. They’re wondering if they’re really monsters and just don’t know it.
Some may even be questioning whether or not life is worth living.
Yes, I’m serious. Just 4 months ago a pastor right here in North Carolina took his own life rather than face even one more day of fighting off the circling sharks.
How can any of this be good for the kingdom?!
Let me end with this—a silver lining of sorts…
Yesterday as I watched Mark Driscoll’s tearful video outlining a temporary leave of absence (That many are hoping becomes permanent). I looked to the end to see the comments. They were 99 to 1 positive! People were filled with grace and forgiveness—really rooting for Mark.
My heart soared! Christianity at its finest!
I predict Mark is going to make it. Better—I predict he will come back more humble and more anointed than ever because brokenness has a way of doing that.
The Bible has much to say about all this,
Romans 8:28-31 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
And,
Psalm 34:18, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
And one more…
2 Cor. 4:5-9, “5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
I can especially relate to verse 7 having felt like a broken vessel many times but always filled with awe about how God uses me anyway!
God is so good!
Let’s reflect Him better to a world with so little hope.
Signed,
A Fellow Cracked Pot.