Futureproof - A Book Review

If you know the writings of Stephen McAlpine, you will already know how helpful his thoughts are for Christians in Australia. If you don't know his writings, you will do well to read this book and learn from him.

In his previous book "Being the Bad Guys" McAlpine encouraged his readers to be ready for the trials that will come our way as Christians. In "Futureproof" he helps us see how we might be able to do this.

It is important to recognise that McAlpine is confident that the church has a future. Many pundits in our society, and in many parts of the West, seem confident that the church does not have a future. Indeed, some are working to ensure the church doesn't have a future. McAlpine reminds us of the promises of Jesus that the gates of hell will not overcome the church (Matt 16:17-19) and that as we work out our salvation, we do so knowing that God works in us (Phip 2:12-13). But this doesn't mean we just do what we have always done believing we will get different results. Rather, we consider the times in which we live with wisdom.

McAlpine breaks his book into two sections. He describes it in this way; section one - the gospel gives us a better vision for the future than the world can offer; section two - how Christians can respond healthily and robustly to four areas of anxiety that eat up secular culture (polarisation & loneliness, technology, culture wars, and ecology). p82

Here's what stands out for me in reading this book and seeking to apply it to my life as a pastor and husband (I am a father too, but they've grown up and left home now).

The church as a community is essential in our time. McAlpine highlights the loneliness epidemic of our age and asks if churches are ready to welcome people who come with messed up lives and no church knowledge. It's a good question. The drawn out lockdowns of the Covid years had a devastating impact on many congregations. As Christians, we have such little opportunity to meet together that we should be doing all we can to make sure we grab hold of the times we can. I am confused by those who have decided not to return to church because it is 'inconvenient'. You are robbing yourself.

Christians have a confidence in the future. This confidence is missing in the lives of many, particularly for younger people. He references 2 Peter 3 on this matter. This is interesting because Peter gives us reason to be confident in the future but also warns his readers that life won't be easy - "you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires." Every age needs to be made aware of this. 

"A god-free heaven so often turns out to be hell on earth" 

The essential value of discipleship. This won't be a surprise to most readers of this book. However , we might need to reconsider how we do discipleship in our time. I did most of my growing up in the Eighties and a good discipleship program then involved meeting up with someone and working through a book together, and that was great. Someone growing up now is facing all kinds of issues which are so different to anything I had to deal with, and the discipleship program (there must be a better word) must also be different. 

One thing that does stay the same is spending time with mature Christian people. If you are a young Christian, make sure you turn up to church each Sunday. Time with these saints week by week will help to shape you as a follower of Christ. If you are a mature Christian, make sure you turn up to church each Sunday. You may not fully appreciate how much you are discipling the young saints in what you do - so be someone worth emulating. 

"I'm encouraged to think of my French friend who, growing up, was the only Christian in a high school of 4,000 students. In a deeply secular country, he knew what it was to be in a minority! Yet is small evangelical church experience was deep and rich. And far more compelling than school."

The final chapter might surprise some readers, but McAlpine is connecting with the concerns of many in our society as he writes on ecology. Here he notices the paradox that society doesn't want to hear anything religious from the church, but the religious type zeal on this issue is acceptable. Indeed, it seems to be unacceptable to hold anything less than a religious fervor on this. Pages 145-147 are enlightening. 

McAlpine has once again offered his readers much to think about as we look into the crystal ball of the future and endeavour to be a godly influence in our society. Fortunately, he doesn't just leave us with thoughts. He also offers some practical suggestions, and not in the way that others might - you won't find 'ten steps to success' here, just practical suggestions. 

You can hear Stephen McAlpine discuss this book and other matters in this podcast.

 

Unmissable Church - Book Review

Sometimes you read a book and think to yourself, "That's the book I wanted to write." For me, this is one of those. What these authors bring to the book that I couldn't is research. But I'm getting ahead of myself. 

Unmissable Church is written by two Australian pastors, Richard Sweatman and Antony Barraclough. This fact alone tweaks my interest. In a world full of guidance and advice for church members and leaders, it is a delight to read something that is from my own country. 

The subtitle is helpful too - "Why you need church and your church needs you". Living in an age where church attendance is generally sporadic and people wonder what they get out of coming to church, it is a good reminder that 'your church needs you'. 

I mentioned research. While I could do my own, Barraclough has done the hard yards already in his doctoral level research on church attendance. This was centred around Sydney Anglican churches so some might think this is too narrow. As this group in many ways reflects my own, it is helpful to me. I am also assuming that this group - which takes the Bible very seriously - takes church attendance seriously. It might be that my assumptions are too generous.

The early chapters help to define what church is. These chapters are important reading for all of us as they help to point out, or remind us, what a church is supposed to be and achieve. Even a small church is a gathering of God's people, just as heaven will be a gathering of God's people. 

The biblical images of the church are pointed out in chapter 3, images like body, building, family, etc. The importance of these images can't be overstated as they all reveal the church to be a group, not an individual. 

The middle section of the book focuses on some of the reasons that people are inconsistent in attendance or stop coming to church all together. These chapters are helpful reading as I consider why some people aren't in church, and moaning about a lack of commitment might be completely wrong. Chapters six and seven deal with 'relationships' and 'mental health' respectively and highlight some aspects of life that I don't often consider, or at least don't have in front of my mind. 

I am one who battles at times with mental health, or 'dark days' as I call them. On these days I would often be content to stay home, sit on the couch and just avoid people. But I can't do that. I'm the pastor and I have to get to church and be with these people. And while some days are difficult I can say how glad I am that I go to church even when I don't feel like it. There is something about being with God's people who are praying for me and who love me that spurs me on. 

Chapter seven offers encouragement to the one dealing with mental health issues AND to the congregation. 

The Bible's instruction to the church is not "let the fainthearted and the weak fend for themselves", but encourage and help them." p137

Chapters eight and nine bring us to consider our place in the church. It is good to be reminded of the value we find when we have the opportunity to serve others, and your church is a place where you can serve others. It is also good to be reminded that service doesn't mean your name is on a roster. You can serve others and encourage others simply by being there each week. 

As a pastor, I can assure you that your presence matters more than you might possibly imagine.  

Chapter nine spends time considering what the book of Hebrews teaches us about involvement and attendance at a local gathering. You might be surprised to learn just how much is to be found in Hebrews. 

The book closes with four appendices. I found the 'practical tips for pastors' to be wise and helpful. Sometimes I need to be reminded to 'not tie my self-esteem as a pastor to the attendance of my flock.' (193) 

The final appendix is timely and important but I confess I also find it distressing. This relates to the impact of Covid on Australian churches. It is timely and important because we need to reflect on the impact on our churches of Covid restrictions, lockdowns, mask and vaccine mandates etc. This appendix reminds us of a moment in history when church in person suddenly became church online, a time when we were all learning something new and dealing with the difficulties of it all. 

I confess I also found this distressing as it was a period of church life that was difficult, and I'm not sure I want to think back on that time. Perhaps that's because I am in Victoria where we had the harshest lockdowns in Australia. This doesn't take away from the value of this appendix. 

I highly recommend this book. Pastors, you should read this book to remind you that the lives of our church attenders is often very different to your own. 

Church attenders should also read this book to remind you what church is, why we meet together, and why your attendance and absence makes an impact. 

Perhaps we should all have a copy in our church library for people to read. 

Jesus and John Wayne - Book Review

Here is the most important statement in the book. Forget the history (which I think is a questionable), this is current - and we should be concerned enough to ponder this statement. She has written a chapter about the strange support Donald Trump gained in the evangelical church even though he is a man who's life stands in stark contrast to the values you would expect evangelicals to promote. She writes - (p272)

Within their own churches and organizations, evangelicals had elevated and revered men who exhibited the same traits of rugged and even ruthless leadership that President Trump now paraded on the national stage. Too often, they had also turned a blind eye to abuses of power in the interest of propping up patriarchal authority.

If evangelical men have been so concerned to hide their own sin and the sin of their leaders, perhaps that helps explain why they supported Trump - an act that made no sense to many Christians around the world. (Du Mez does give a fuller context to what led to this, but it still leaves a bitter taste.)

Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du Mez is a book with an interesting title, a disturbing message, and a terrifying revelation in the closing chapters. On the front cover is the phrase "A book that America needs now." As an Australian, I don't know how true that really is, but before we get to that let's take a look at what the book has shown me about American Evangelicalism.

But even here I find a difficulty. Du Mez is revealing a form of evangelicalism that is foreign to me. She quotes from the National Association of Evangelicals to show their understanding of what 'evangelical' means (p5)

To be an evangelical is to uphold the Bible as one's ultimate authority, to confess the centrality of Christ's atonement, to believe in a born-again conversion experience, and to actively work to spread this good news and reform society accordingly.

Only the final statement seems to be shown in the people mentioned in the book.

On the whole, I am very critical of this book. The subtitle reveals, I think, her thesis and I can't help but feel she has determined to make everything fit into that thesis and conclusion. "How white evangelicals corrupted a faith and fractured a nation" is certainly a provocative statement to have on the cover, but does show this? I think not. 

What I read seemed to be a collection of moments in history which have been put together to create a story line that I don't believe was in the minds of those she refers to - although there might have been some keen to take it on. Here's one example - 

James Dobson is a name well known to people of my generation. His writings on family and children influenced more than one generation of Christians who were looking for help to raise children in a world that was changing rapidly. His book, 'Dare to Discipline' would be on many shelves. Why did he write such a book? As a response to the problems that were coming to him in his rooms as a child psychologist. Later, he founded 'Focus on the Family' an organisation with a Christian perspective on a changing world.

Was he aiming to be political? Du Mez comments 'Early on, Dobson took great pains to appear apolitical," (84)  Was he working hard to 'appear' apolitical, or was that in fact his desire? She goes on - "Dobson initially denied the political nature of his work, but his teachings had clear political implications. When he did begin to engage directly in politics in the early 1980s, he brought his enormous and devoted following with him."(86) 

This kind of language and inference runs all through this book. Anyone who has done anything that might be considered 'conservative' or 'biblical' in regards to issues of morality are tarred with the brush of corrupted evangelical. It is not just men she writes about in this way. She gets the tarred brush out for a few women too - women who became leaders in their own right!

I'm frustrated that for all the good things that people have done to serve their country and have made a significant difference, she seems to write as though it was all part of a great plot of the Illuminati to oppress people. I'm also frustrated that everything is shown as happening through the careful and devious planning of people. God seems to have no part to play in this story. 

If you are one of those who feel that white evangelicals have corrupted the Christian faith and fractured a nation, you will love this book. It will affirm everything you feel and give you more and more reason to turn away from these men and the faith they seek to proclaim. This is one of my great fears of this book. I don't know that evangelicals will read it and think, "She's right. We have made some terrible mistakes we need to repent of." I am more afraid that people will read this and determine that if this is what the people of Jesus do, then they will also reject Jesus. And to do that is to reject far more than a lifestyle or a political party.

If you are a true evangelical, borrow a copy and just read the last two chapters. These are important and helpful in understanding how the church in America supported Donald Trump - something which still leaves me wondering. She highlights the role of Russel Moore who seems to have been a lone voice against the tide. Thank God for such a voice. 

Postscript - 

I read this book a week before a report into the Southern Baptist Convention was released. This report was rightly damning of the SBC leadership and their response to allegations of abuse. Perhaps books like this might help to confront the next generation of church leaders to see that they are not privileged and that sin will eventually be revealed. If it does that, it will be a good book.

I visited your church on Sunday - here's why I'd come back.

After visiting a church on a previous holiday, I wrote this blog - I visited your church on Sunday - and I'm not coming back

On this holiday we visited a different church and had a very different experience. If I was in the area, or needed to recommend a church to someone in the area, I would recommend you. 

What made this church so good? 

When we arrived, we were still in the car park when we were warmly greeted by someone. He wasn't on duty in the car park, he was with his young son. But he still took a moment to greet us with a smile and a hand shake and an introduction.  

As we came into the building, we were again greeted by an old bloke with a big smile. He handed us the pew-sheet and chatted for a while. 

After the worship service, a couple who were sitting in front of us turned around to speak to us. Then they invited us to stay for morning tea. So we did. And there people spoke with us and made us feel very welcome. 

The building is clearly a church building in its structure and seating. And there is a lot more 'blue' than necessary. 😁 BUT, the chairs were comfortable enough and, more importantly, it was warm. It was chilly outside, but warm inside.

No one will buy a CD of music from this church. I don't say that to be rude in any way, but there was a keyboard used for hymns and the minister playing an acoustic guitar for other songs. (I remember the days of being a minister playing the guitar as the only music. So I salute him for doing this.)

So the music was almost as simple as it could be. But we were able to sing well, in time and in tune.

The preaching was solid and helpful. We were reminded of the importance of unity in the church and the role we all have in that. Importantly we were reminded of God's grace revealed in Jesus. 

The children's talk was also rock-solid and connected to the sermon. Brilliant. 

There was absolutely nothing fancy about this church. Indeed, it was church in it's simple form. And it was wonderful. 

If I was in Wangaratta, I would certainly visit the Presbyterian church again.

 

Consistency in word and character

I expect we all know someone who doesn't quite live up to the the words they express. It might be someone who tells people they should live in a certain way, but don't live that way themselves - like people who urge others to be generous but never share anything from their own pocket.  

But that's not exactly what I have in mind. 

This morning in my Bible reading I was struck by this phrase

They claim to know God but by their actions they deny him. (Titus 1:16)

While I would like to think such things don't still happen, the last twenty years has made it abundantly clear that this comment is as relevant in my lifetime as it was when it was first written near 2,000 years ago. 

I have two groups in mind. The first is the prosperity preachers who assure their followers that wealth and health will be theirs if they give more. Such selfishness is staggering, but even more staggering is the way people continue to support what they do. 

The second group is even more diabolical. Here I think of those who take positions of leadership within a church and abuse that privilege. When you are a leader in a church, there would be an assumption that you 'claim to know God'. However, when those same leaders use their position to abuse others, either sexually or financially, then it is true that 'by their actions they deny him'. 

No wonder so many people think the church is a scam and that priests and other leaders are on the take. No doubt their judgement will come, and I pray it comes soon. 

If you claim to know God, don't let your actions undo what you say. 

The church needs consistency in teaching and action; in word and deed. 

Lord, keep me faithful. 

A reminder to find our hope in God alone

 This morning I read a post titled Are We Wasting the COVID Crisis? by Steve McAlpine. It is a lengthy and helpful article that confronts church leaders to consider what life might be like in the future for churches in Australia. McAlpine sounds a warning for us to consider - that the measures used against all groups in society during the pandemic might become the norm for churches in the future. 

While that sounds melodramatic, there might well be truth behind it. In my life in ministry, I have seen opportunities for Christian witness that were once considered normal now become extinct. Some ladies in our church who were nurses talked about receiving a small, white New Testament in their training. I remember all year 7 students receiving a small New Testament in their first year at a state high school. In more recent times, some local government Councils have worked to stop land being avaliable for any new churches to be built in their jurisdiction. Churches are no longer welcomed to teach Christian values and stories in state schools, and Chaplains are no longer seen as necessary in hospitals. 

Oh, what a difference those chaplains could have been in this crisis time. But that's another story. 

Read the article. It's worth your time. 

This morning I also read Psalm 62, and couldn't help but see the connection between these two pieces of writing that are separated by thousands of years.

The Psalm writer, King David, begins by focussing his hope on God alone as his source of rest, salvation, and strength. And in verses 3-4, there is a phrase which seems to describe the attitude of Western society to the church as a whole

How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse. Psalms 62:3-4

The Christian Church has been a part of Australia as long as white people have been a part of Australia. Has the church caused some problems? Absolutely. Should the church suffer for that? Of course. Is the church the cause for all the social problems in our country? Not at all. In fact, as you probably know, the church in various forms has done - and continues to do - a lot of work to alleviate the problems in society at all levels.

I'm not going to offer any commentary on what we can do. McAlpine does that much better than I could. Let's be wise in our actions. Let's be careful in our planning. Let's consider a world where church practices are not only unwelcome, but consistently undermined by people who don't know what the church is actually doing. 

And let's put our trust in the One who actually matters; the One who can actually help us when we are tottering or toppled. 

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
 Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge. Psalms 62:5-8

"Mission Drift" - Book Review

When a book has a chapter titled "The Tale of two Presbyterian Ministers", it seems like a book that should have something to say to me as a Presbyterian minister. And it does! Peter Greer and Chris Horst have put together a book that is as eye-opening and challenging as any good book on leadership should be. But this one is even better.

"Mission Drift" shows what is likely to happen to all faith-based organisations if they are not careful, and the clue is in the title. They will start well, but will eventually drift to become something they were not created to be, and what gets lost is their gospel focus - the very thing that drove the mission in the first place.

The chapter about the Presbyterian ministers tells the story of China's Children's Fund,  and Compassion International. Dr J. Calvitt Clarke created China's Children's Fund in 1938 after seeing the poverty that was affecting Chinese children. The ministry expanded and changed it's name to better reflect it's identity to Christian Children's Fund. Sixty years later a former board member could say "This organisation has nothing to do with Christianity." In 2009 its name was changed to  ChildFund International.

(Interestingly, if you look at https://www.childfund.org.au/about-us/#our-history you'll see that Dr Clarke is described as "an American humanitarian". His faith has been airbrushed out of the history of the very organisation he founded.)

Compassion International began with a different Presbyterian minister, Everett Swanson, seeing the impact on orphans of the Korean War in the 1950's. Since that time, the organisation has remained true to the spiritual principles that were the very foundation.

(Coincidentally, this morning I shared a coffee with one of the blokes from Compassion Australia, and it was good to hear him speak about the truth of this.)

So, here are two organisations with a similar purpose coming from similar backgrounds, but now present a very different message. This is not to say that ChildFund are doing a bad job. Please don't misunderstand e. But it does show that organisations can - or will - move away from their prime mission unless they work hard to keep it central.

In my ministry now as a pastor at the Heathmont Presbyterian Church, I am feeling the importance of keeping on the main mission, and not being distracted by all the things that are good and worthwhile, but which will take me away from the main task - to love God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love my neighbour as myself. If I do this, then I will also take seriously the call of Jesus to 'go into the world to make disciples' - followers of Jesus.

If you are looking for a book on leadership that is much more than goal setting and list making, you'll enjoy this. But don't think it will be a comfortable read. It won't be.

But it will be worth it.