i am an offering

Yet again, I’m going to postpone my post on discipline and exercise until tomorrow.  I was going to post it today and ignore what everyone else is posting about - but’s too important to not talk about.

You’ve more than likely heard, but for those who haven’t, Mike Guglielmucci, who wrote “Healer” which had quickly risen as a worship-song phenomenon throughout the worship leading world, and who had claimed that the song was born out of a battle with cancer was exposed yesterday morning. Various news sources revealed that he had been faking it all along.

What do we do with something like this?  The first thing my wife said when I mentioned the news to her is, “That is absolutely disgusting.”  And she’s right - but once we get past the insanity of what Mike chose to do and really wrestle with the consequences for the rest of the world as they watch this - how do we respond?

• How do we respond when the world says that Christians are no different than the rest of the world and are actually mere hypocrites?
• How do we respond to the fact that someone families put their trust in as a youth pastor devastated that trust?
• How do we respond to someone using one of the most serious diseases that cause so many people immense amounts of grief as a disguise?

We respond the way we would respond every day.  Realize we are all sinners and filthy in God’s sight without Jesus’ work on the cross.  Learn about, embrace and daily practice integrity in everything we do.  Surround ourselves with accountability on several levels - we can’t just trust our family to hold us accountable as we are completely capable of fooling even our own families.  And then respond this way:

• When the world says we’re no different - admit that they’re right. We are all messed-up sinners who need a Savior.  We all talk one way and act another many times.  Embrace humility and compassion above all else.
• Realize even more the importance of accountability within our personal lives, our family lives, our professional lives and our lives in ministry.  We must have people that hold us accountable.  And not just an occasional question here or there.  We need to be willing to be put to the grueling test - and often.
• We pray.  We realize that what he has done does not change who God is and what Christianity is all about.  And we realize that God is still the Ultimate Healer - for everything - physically and mentally.

My heart breaks for Mike - and even more so his family.  My heart breaks for the church.  But even more so - my heart yearns to apply integrity, accountability and raw honesty with unbridled passion to everything I do.  Will you do the same?

I also want to point you to a fantastic perspective and response to this situation at The Worship Community - written by Fred McKinnon.  Please read it and think deeply about what he says.

First of all, I apologize for the lack of scheduled posting.  I was having some technical difficulties.  Onward…

I seem to be sensing a bit of a trend in many churches today (especially smaller churches).  The trend is that the artists are leaving.  And, sadly, they are ending up in spots that are drowning their faith and getting them into some places they shouldn’t be going.  I’ve been involved in enough theatre groups to know that what goes on in many are not particularly healthy for someone who has left the church and is looking for a place to belong.  Before long, people are belonging to smoker’s circles, drinking parties, and all sorts of relativistic thinking.  Why is this?  Why do artists find a different community instead of the church?  There are a few reasons:

• The word I just mentioned above: community, or rather, the lack of it.  Many churches have a great community of quilters.  Many churches have a great community of people who play sports together.  Many churches have a great community of friends.  But most churches have no community of artists.  The “secular” art world is full of community.  In the church, where is the place for photographers?  Where is the place for sculptors?  Where is the place for dancers?  Where is the place for sketchers, painters, graphic designers?
• Artists’ minds aren’t nurtured, directed, and discipled.  Because there is rarely an outlet for artists to “perform” in the church, there is rarely a place to nurture an artist’s gift, and rarely a place for a mature Christian artist to disciple a younger one.
• Artists aren’t utilized. Let’s face it, besides musicians and maybe a couple of ladies that make banners, where are we utilizing artists within the church?
• Quality doesn’t seem to matter.  Artists can get pretty picky.  So often in the church we do something halfheartedly with no effort and call it “good enough” because it’s for church.  Artists see these things and run away as fast as they can.

So how do we nurture artists in the church and why should we be concerened about doing so?  Tomorrow I’ll share some Scripture, thoughts and ideas on how to do so.