I am amazed that so many people support people, businesses, and organizations that promote sinful things that these people claim they oppose. Isn’t that kind of like giving to the Obama campaign fund even though you didn’t vote for him? Does that make any sense? Not only does it not make sense, it is wrong. I realize that we all unknowingly contribute to businesses that we shouldn’t support, because we have no idea who all the stock-holders or partners are, but many people do it even when they are aware of the company’s sinful activity.

It’s no wonder that the world doesn’t put much stock in what Christians say. Many have a double standard. For example, if you voted for Obama you are just as guilty as he is for the things he has done. And if you knowingly support businesses, products, or organizations that promote sinful activities you are just as guilty as they are. That’s sad and serious. Yet these same people sit in church every week and pretend they have nothing to repent of. It’s time some people put up or shut up. Stop talking about the things that are wrong if you are going to support them. It doesn’t make any difference if you think their product is the best, if they use their profits to promote sin you ought to stop lining their pockets. Many of these companies would go out of business if enough Christians had the guts to stop supporting them. Think about it!

Someone recently asked me a question and I said, “I don’t know. I’m just the pastor”. Now, while that was tongue-in-cheek, there’s a lot of truth to it. Being the pastor doesn’t mean I have all the answers. There are a lot of things I don’t know. Let me give you some examples. There are things I don’t know because—

—I’m not as smart as some people.

—I’m not as knowledgeable in certain areas as some folks. I can’t repair a computer, overhaul an engine, read music, or do sign language.

—It’s not my job. Being the “overseer” doesn’t mean I should or need to know everything. That’s why we have ministry leaders.

—I don’t need to know. Since I’m not God there are a lot of things I don’t need to know. What a relief!

—I don’t want to know. I hear a lot of things I would rather not hear.

—Others don’t want me to know. Some people withhold information from me for various reasons, good and bad.

—Some refuse to tell me. Some people want me to know certain things, and they hope I am troubled by it, but they don’t want to be the one who tells me. It happens all the time. It usually goes something like this. Someone gets upset over something, decides to stop attending or to leave the the church, and then do so without ever saying a word to me. They don’t even have the common courtesy to tell me about it. That speaks volumes about their character. Such disrespect tells me that they have a problem other than the “problem” that has them upset. Isn’t it strange– they figure it’s okay for them to do wrong because they feel something else is wrong. They simply walk away without their pastor knowing anything about it, until a request for a church letter comes in the mail. Some of the people who wouldn’t think of resigning their job without a letter of resignation and proper notification to their employer leave the Lord’s church without a word. Then they have the audacity to lay the blame on the church. That immediately makes me think there was no justification for their actions, nor cause for their complaint.

After years of observation, I’ve come to realize that when a person makes up their mind to leave a church they will find a “reason” to do so. Rather than take the blame they will find fault with something or someone and use it to make it appear that they are justified in leaving. Instead of saying, “I am backslidden”, or “I am guilty of sin”, or “I’m not getting the attention I crave, or the position I want, or the credit I deserve”, etc., they try to lay the blame on someone else. These folks then run from church to church until they finally get what they want, or they drop out altogether, because, to hear them tell it, there are no good churches. Rather than deal with their own problem, they want to blame everyone but themselves. I’ve heard people say, “No one likes me!” Well, maybe there’s a reason for it. Instead of blaming them, it might be more helpful if you took a good look in the mirror. You just might discover that you are your own worst enemy. Get yourself right with God and you will be amazed how happy, and helpful, you can be right where you are. Think about it!

As any pastor can tell you, Christians can be some of the most patient, thoughtful, and kind people in the world. Thank God for them! But they also know that some church members can be some of the most critical people on earth. Pastors, however, aren’t the only ones aware of this. Ask any ministry leader what the most difficult part of their job is and they will tell you it is dealing with fault-finders, critics. They know that regardless of how hard they try it will never be good enough for some folks. That’s why it takes a thick skin to stay in the ministry over the long haul –they can’t take the heat so they get out of the kitchen. And if they throw in the towel, guess who speaks most harshly of them? Yeah you guessed it— the very ones who criticized and discouraged them to start with! However, there is someone who, for all practical purposes, usually quits before they do, and that’s the critic himself.

I can tell you from nearly half a century of ministry that most critics aren’t faithful in attendance or ministry. They tend to bounce around like a rubber ball. About the only way to keep them going is to cave in to every complaint, succumb to every suggestion they make, and let them rule the roost. In other words, if they aren’t running the show they bail out. If they don’t get their way they take their bag of marbles, like a child, and head for home. That’s exactly where some members are right now. They got upset about something so they dropped out. And eventually the reason for their rebellion will filter back to the pastor— they will see to that! So they sit at home pouting when they ought to be serving God. Instead of getting their heart right and getting back into church, they try to justify their rebellion by pointing out the faults of others— as though they are better than them. They criticize others but fail to take any responsibility for their own actions. They quit on God because of what somebody else has done, or didn’t do. Does that make any sense?

Here’s something else I’ve learned– most of these people are sitting on the edge of their seat waiting  for the pastor to contact them and ask “What’s wrong?” Other pastors can do as they please, but I refuse to play that game. I am not going to waste my time being a baby-sitter for childish critics who see everyone’s faults but their own. If that describes you, you might as well look somewhere else, because I’m not coming. As a general rule, no one loves the church more than the pastor, yet no one is more aware of its faults and still he continues on. My point is this— seeing faults in a church doesn’t give you the right to leave it. Awareness of its faults should make you more helpful, not more of a hindrance. Any pastor worth his salt doesn’t cut and run just because the church is less than perfect. Neither should you! Why should the failure of someone else cause you to fail?

One of the saddest things about these people is that, based on my experience, they seldom change. Although they could recover, the very nature of their problem makes it difficult. Their pride makes them critical and it also keeps them from admitting they are wrong. They have a reputation for being hard to please and they live up to it—year after year! I suspect some have died because of it. So,if you are a church critic I hope you will be the exception of the rule and ask God to deliver you from the sin of fault-finding. Rather than mentioning every flaw you see help us mend them. But you will have to start with your own before you can be of help to others. May God help me be a better example for you. Together we can make a difference, but we have to be different. Think about it!

God despises half-heartedness, yet that’s all the effort most people ever put into their service for the Lord. And, that is a dangerous thing to do. I recently read the following article by Tim Challies that prompted me to think about it:

“I don’t know how much I’ve driven in the twenty years since I got my license, but I do know it’s a lot, what with all those drives down to the South to visit my family. Here is one thing that has never varied across the hundreds of thousands of miles: When I take my foot off the pedal, the car does not speed up. It doesn’t even maintain the same speed. Instead, from the very moment I take my foot off the accelerator, the car begins to slow. Allowing the car to coast is inviting the car to stop. It may take some time, but left on its own, it will stop eventually. It is inevitable.

I’ve been thinking about this lately because I see in my own life a tendency to coast—to coast in my relationships, to coast in my pursuit of godliness, to coast in my pursuit of God himself. And here are some things I’ve observed:

I do not coast toward godliness, but selfishness.

I do not coast toward self-control, but rashness.

I do not coast toward a love for others, but agitation.

I do not coast toward patience, but irritability.

I do not coast toward purity, but lust.

I do not coast toward self-denial, but self-obsession.

I do not coast toward the gospel, but self-sufficiency.

In short, I do not coast toward Christ, but toward self. When I stop caring, when I stop expending effort, when I allow myself to coast, I inevitably coast away from God and godliness. And this is exactly why I am so deeply dependent upon those ordinary means of grace, those oh-so-ordinary ways of growing in godliness—Scripture and prayer, preaching and fellowship, worship —-. The moment those sweet means no longer appeal is the moment I begin to slow.”

It’s time we put the petal to the metal and got back in the race! There is no cruise control in a race car. Think about it!

I can’t read minds, but I’ve got a pretty good idea as to what some folks, even relatives, think about me. If they were so bold, and perfectly honest to put it into words, they might say something like this:

You are too old-fashion and out of touch with the times. You are narrow minded and unwilling to compromise. You refuse to consider that there is some good in everyone and all religions. Don’t you know one religion is as good as another if you are sincere? After all, we all worship the same God. You won’t even allow non-baptist to preach in your church. What’s up with that? And while I’m talking about it, why do you insist on using the name “Baptist”? Don’t you realize that you would attract more people if you used a generic name? And, talk about offending people, you keep insisting that people be immersed for baptism. I’ll have you to know my grandpa was sprinkled and he was the best Christian I ever knew. But I’m not through. I’ve got plenty more to say.

You refuse to use any of the modern translations of the Bible.That’s silly. That old King James version is out of date. And if that wasn’t bad enough, you keep singing those old hymns. They are so boring! But that’s not the worst thing. I’ve got a problem with your preaching as well. You preach about God’s law and man’s sinfulness—even calling the names of sin, and the blood of Jesus. Then you try to tell us how we ought to live. Butt out preacher– how I live isn’t any of your business.  I was really offended when you said it was wrong to get a divorce and that people shouldn’t remarry as long as they have a living spouse. Are you crazy? It also makes me angry when you talk about the husband being the head of the house and that wives should be in submission to their husbands. That is so stupid—almost as bad as you telling us we ought to spank our children. Don’t you know that will hurt their self-esteem? And before I forget it– I have a lot of gay friends who are wonderful Christians–who are you to judge them. And don’t even get me started about your preaching against abortion–I might lose my temper like I did that day when you criticized President Obama. I’ll never forgive you for that!

I wish you would resign. You don’t even dress like a preacher. Those silly suits and ties are out of style. Why don’t you dress casual? I never even see you wearing shorts in public. My last preacher wore them to church– he was really cool and the teens loved him. You ought to try it. Well I guess that’s enough for now, but there is plenty more where that came from. O yeah, I almost forgot— I hate the way you comb your hair! Now what do you have to say for yourself?
PS– You are too judgmental!

My response—- “THANKS!” Guilty as charged!