War Room - A Film on the Power of Prayer

My wife Diana and I were privileged to be able to attend a pre-screening of War Room, the latest movie from Provident Films and the Kendrick Brothers (Sherwood Pictures/Sherwood Baptist Church of Albany, Georgia). Other movies form this line include Flywheel, Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous.  This film, like some of the previous films is being promoted intentionally towards a Christian audience, and is being released with a wide
assortment of materials and resources.  The obvious reasoning behind the producers hosting pre-screenings for those in ministry positions is to promote the film, as movie producers sink or swim based on movie attendance.

The host for this event opened with a now familiar concept: if we want good, Christ-honoring films in our entertainment options, then we must support them when they come.  And when a movie has the billing and potential to be not only Christ-honoring, but a powerful ministry tool, we should give it serious consideration.

In the case of War Room, the premise of the story revolves around prayer and its vital role in families, especially the picture of Matthew 6:6:

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

War Room is the story of Tony and Elizabeth Jordan (played by T.C. Stallings and Pricilla Shirer), a seemingly successful young couple with a young daughter Danielle (played by Alena Pitts), yet a family on the brink of collapse.  Tony is the top salesman at a pharmaceutical company, consumed with his career (and a little bit more), and Elizabeth the realtor who feels helpless in the face of a collapsing relationship with Tony.  Then along comes Miss Clara (Karen Abercrombie), a widow lady who has her old home for sale. This launches us into a roller coaster of emotion as Miss Clara connects with Elizabeth, eventually introducing the latter to her "War Room", a closet in her old house where she spends time with the Lord in War, not with this world, but with the REAL enemy.

The Kendrick brothers have an almost predictable way with splashes of humor, while giving due reverence to the extremely important subjects handled in this film. One of the most enjoyable parts of this movie, outside of the heart-lifting character of Miss Clara, is that the producers did not shy away from the name of Jesus! This movie is unabashedly "Christ-centered", indeed so much so that the enemies of God will indeed be offended by it, and the marginal, lukewarm believer will likely leave the film deeply convicted.

Entertainment Value: 9 out of 10

Family Friendly 10 our of 10

God-honoring 10 out of 10

Spiritual Value for investment 10 out of 10

Values Promoted: Prayer, Grace, Faith 

I will go out on a fairly secure limb and add this to my list of "must see" films.  While there is little in the way of "big screen" action that make this a "movie theater experience", I would still take the time and make the investment to see this in the theater, with a big focus on the opening weekend.  Many are not aware that films are made or broken by their opening weekend performance. With a good box office, the movie will expand to far more theaters, getting much more exposure and reaching a much wider audience, while helping to encourage further investment in family-friendly, values-based films.  

Go see this movie! And watch out - you might even find yourself wanting to SHOUT (praise Jesus!). I can confidently say, your faith will be strengthened, and your heart may very well be convicted, all while seeing an enjoyable, entertaining, and family-friendly film.

Know a couple who's marriage is hurting? Know people going through hard times in desperation?  This film can help!

War Room opens in theaters August 28 (with a special early opening on August 27).

"How do you like your coffee?" (See the film to get the reference)

For more information, see the official web site of War Room

How to Discourage Your Pastor (Or Even Kill Your Church)

Jesus promised that the "gates of Hell" won't prevail against His church, but someone once opined "Satan couldn't beat the church, so he joined it". While this might be a bit melodramatic  it does sadly portray what has become of "church" in so many ways - whether it be the world coming in and turning the church into nothing but another display of the flesh, or if it is the more subtle, and I believe unintentional acts and words of otherwise well-intentioned people. One aspect of that is the harm done, both to pastors and leaders, and often to an entire church body by its own members. The bits below have been gleaned from personal experiences, adventures others have shared with me, and a handful of articles that have touched on the subject. 

A disclaimer - this post is not intended to point out any one individual, group, or church body, but to hopefully - by drawing attention to what many don't think about - edify local churches and ultimately to glorify God.

I. Don't Show Up! That's right - if you wan to to kill a church (or at least muffle the Spirit) and discourage the pastor, then just don't show up. This technique is one of the most used, and least recognized weapons against the church. There is a reasoning to the writer of Hebrews' words in Hebrews 10:25.  When we neglect the meeting together of the local body, we hurt ourselves and our fellow believers. Jesus created the church for many purposes, with the "Great Commission" being the most important and outward of those purposes, He also knew (knows) that believers need each other. They need the fellowship with other believers. We need the teaching, we need to proclamation of the Word, and we need each other. If we look at the First Century church as illustrated in the book of Acts, we see believers (remember - thousands of believers had been "added to the church") meeting together "daily" - in many ways and forms to help each other, to lift each other up, to walk through life together. They needed each other!  How arrogant for professed believers today to claim through their actions, if not words, that they don't need fellow believers!

II. Careless Words - This could come in the form of comparing your current pastor to previous pastors or to other preachers. This could come in the form of literal backbiting and rumor-spreading.  This could be demonstrated in emotional outbursts. We really cannot control how people take what we say, but we most certainly can think about what we say and how we say it. And let us not forget how the Bible (James) describes our tongues...
Interestingly enough, Jesus and the Apostles were well-known for speaking openly. Even John the Baptist used the phrase "brood of vipers" when talking to the Pharisees. Yet our words must always convey the grace of God. If your conversation immediately goes silent when someone else walks in the room, theres a good possibility the discussion was not edifying or God-glorifying. Which leads to:

III. Radio Silence - I have witnessed this both within and outside the local church. Some who have been open and willing to talk, who regularly have an encouraging word or cheerful conversation suddenly become uncharacteristically silent. Even those who may not be regular conversationalists will for whatever reason go silent. Often, this is the product of hurt feelings. Maybe it is due to #2 above (Careless words) they have received. Or maybe it is due to incorrect perceptions. Or just maybe there is a genuine issue that they are recoiling from. Regardless, I can find nowhere in scripture that would indicate that the right way to handle any of the above is through silence. Indeed, the New Testament is rich in instructions in dealing with brothers who have been hurt and/or wronged by another. Every step involves speaking to the offender to seek reconciliation and restoration. Radio Silence leaves hurts unhealed, raises further questions, often leads to innuendo and damaging assumptions, and never leads to God-glorifying restoration.

It is unfortunate that Radio Silence is often accompanied by a sudden commitment to #1 above. Church members, for whatever reason, chose to just go quiet and walk away from the local church. Never an explanation (or at least an open and honest disclosure), and often further complicating words and actions that discourage, divide, and destroy.

IV. Raw Emotions - Why is it that some of the most ungodly and ugly behavior I have ever witnessed has been carried out by "church members"? Emotions. We as the church are called together in a special, close, and very personal relationship. In the course of carrying out our duty to each other, we have to lay our hearts out on the line. That opens us up to a lot of "targets". More than once, a pastor has preached the God-given message, only to find a church  member so upset and even enraged that said preacher "picked them out to pick on". That member blows up, causes a scene, and divides congregations - all because of an out-of-control (and generally illogical) emotional reaction.

Or similarly, a brother or sister speaks a careless word or is perceived to have somehow wronged a brother. The reaction - a blow up of epic proportions, all as a knee-jerk, emotion-fueled outburst that again, divides and destroys.

V. Unreasonable Expectations - How many perfect people have ever walked the face of this earth? Other than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the answer is ZERO. We all have shortcomings, weaknesses, flaws, and "issues" to deal with. We all are sinners who desperately need the Savior! As we mature in Christ, many of these shortcomings should become less prominent. But as long as we are flesh and blood beings, we will struggle. We will fail from time-to-time.

Among these human beings are pastors, teachers, and other leaders. Certainly the Bible holds these people to a high standard - with the Pastor answering directly to God Almighty for every word and action! But often these people are held to unreasonable expectations. We forget that pastors are humans too. We forget that he has a family, bills to pay, and his own Christian walk/race to run. Pastors are not angels, able to flit from home, to the church building, to hospitals, to parts unknown around the world to magically minister personally, and with all the right words, in each and every situation. Teachers have their own lives and situations to deal with, in addition to preparing to teach those in their charge - and again, with the most important curriculum in the world - the Word of God.

We as church members sometimes let other down. Yes, within the local body of believers, there should be an expectation that we will do our very best to fulfill our commitments and be people of our word. But again, we are human and will sometimes fall short.

I once hear told of a church that wanted to call a bi-vocational pastor. Among their expectations listed in the job description:
     - Seeking a bi-vocational pastor
     -A man with an Seminary Degree who spends several hours daily in study and preparation of the Word.
     - Has a wife who plays piano
     - Well behaved children
     - Will regularly visit the extensive list of shut-ins, invalids, those in nursing homes, and in the hospital.
     - Will keep the church building clean, and the grass mowed, flower beds clean and attractive.
     - Will teach Sunday School
     - Organize the Choir
     - Attend associational meetings
     - lead regular canvassing of neighborhoods
     - organize Vacation Bible School
     - keep his home (or church parsonage) up so church members can drop in at any time.
     - keep regular office hours
     - preach two services on Sunday, and one on Wednesday
     - Pay is $100 per week

And all of this does not include the unwritten and unstated (but just as expected) abilities and actions!

While the above may sound improbable, such has been the expectation of many a pastor! But what really hurts is that many of the expectations are not stated at all, yet church members engage in many of the numbers above when said pastor (or other church member) fails to meet those expectations.

VI. Complain - in contrast to those who go "radio silent", shutting others out, others are what one of my seminary professors referred to as "Joy Suckers". A Joy Sucker is the person who has a knack for finding the negative in every situation. In all things, they seek and actively highlight everything bad (even if it is only in their perception). 

Some find every possible flaw to whine about with the pastor: he preaches too long, he preaches to loud (or quiet), he is more of a teacher - not a preacher, he sweats too much, his suit isn't pressed, his wife didn't talk to me, his children are too loud, he didn't come see me when I stubbed my toe...  My personal favorite: "why didn't you go visit _________ in the hospital?" (all while having never been informed that _______ was even IN the hospital or even was sick!).

But it isn't just the pastor who is the target of those who are Joy Suckers - Sunday School teachers receive a lot of the same condemnation.  The sanctuary or classroom is always too hot or too cold. A bit of painting needs done or carpet laid, and the color is never right. Too much (or too little) emphasis is placed on kids or youth. The music is too loud (or simply "I don't like that music"). Joy suckers find every way possible to quite literally suck the joy out of each and every aspect of life, and sadly - most don't even realize what they are doing!

Remember, if there is something genuinely wrong, there is a biblical course of action to take.

VII. Turn a Blind Eye - in contrast to those who live life as a malcontent Joy Sucker, is the church member or even church body that turns a blind eye. The Apostle Paul wrote repeatedly of sin within the church that was going unaddressed. Adultery, selfishness, pride, sexual sin/fornication, and even incest had reared their ugly heads. Add to this the false doctrines and theologies that were coming in, and we see a recipe for disaster.

Scripture indicates that judgment must begin within the church. The church is called out to show the world there is a better way, a way which is pleasing to God. A way of genuine joy, changed lives, and righteousness that satisfies much better than the world can. When those within the church look more like that outside the church than they look like Jesus, we have a problem. But remember, accountability does not mean we are suppose to condemn. Accountability is about love. About desiring better, God-pleasing lives for our brethren. But that also means we have to speak the truth (in love).

VIII. Lie - few things will destroy, discourage, and divide like lies will. This is an awfully old problem. Satan is described as the father of lies (John 8:44). When we say we do not sin, we too are liars (1 John 1:5-10). How do people within the church lie?

One of the most common way is by not sharing their burdens. A brother or sisters asks if they are ok, if there is anything they can help them with or pray about - and the answer is "no - we are doing fine". It is a rare thing for a Christian to have it "all together". We all face daily struggles. Most of us deal with far larger trials and obstacles that should lead us to welcome any prayers we can get! Further, often our burdens could be made lighter were we to simply allow others to help us with them.

Still other lies are far more nefarious - like when a church member says one thing to the pastor, and a completely different story/version to other church members. Or when a church member deals dishonestly with another (business transaction, loan of money or materials, or making commitments there was no real intention to keep).

Many churches, especially those of Baptist lineage, hold to a "Church Covenant" much like this:

Or as some churches have chosen, a "Membership Agreement", which fulfills the same basic purpose as a Covenant - to give a point of commitment by members to the local church and to each other for accountability, service, spiritual growth, and provision for the church. Yet how many members don't every take said covenant or agreement seriously? Is it a lie when a church member doesn't make an effort to uphold what they have said they would do? Is it a lie if they act contrary to said commitment?

If you want to damage a church, then choose to ignore your commitment to each other and the Lord. Deal dishonesty with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Refuse to allow others to share your burdens. Tell everyone you are "doing fine" when you really do need some encouragement, help, or prayers. Pat your pastor on the back and tell him how great the sermon was, while complaining to other how awful your pastor is.

IX. Bickering - One of the big discouraging activities sometimes found in churches is bickering, usually connected to personality conflicts. This is amazing, considering how the New Testament portrays what a right-relationship within the local church looks like. Unfortunately, bickering is often the product of selfishness and pride. Personal preferences/comfort (connected to THIS post) trump what is best for the body. It is a crying shame when brother turns against brother, usually over the smallest, most insignificant blip on the radar of life. And it brings down everyone around them.

X. Just Go Away - One of the most undermining of all way s to kill a church and discourage you pastor is to just disappear. One Sunday, you are there, participating - the next, where did brother ___________ go?  When asked, be sure to tell different people different reasons, so that none have the whole picture. Particularly helpful in dividing and discouraging the church is when you say you will return, but never do. If there was a real reason for your withdrawal, and that situation is rectified in a God-glorifying way, then why remain withdrawn from fellowship?

Yes, indeed - Satan is always on the prowl. As the author of lies and deception, he inserts himself even within the walls of churches, seeking how he can use our weakness to derail the work of God. When Christians are constantly seeking the Lord, humbling themselves to serve one-another, love each other in such a way that personal preferences take a back seat to the will of God, and when the Glory of God is most important, then Satan has a hard time gaining a foothold. 

In contrast, when our "self" rises in importance, we give Satan just the crack he needs to come in and begin his pattern of destruction and discouragement. Once he is allowed a foothold, it rapidly grows more difficult to kick him out.

The question then becomes - are we willing to put all aside for the glory of God and the furtherance of the Gospel? Or are we content just plugging along, ignoring problems until the damage is done?

Will we let our own actions become stumbling blocks to others? Will we ignore the reality that when we do any of the above 10 actions, we do damage not only to the church, but to the leadership God places before us, and to our own walk with the Lord. 

False Teachers, Prosperity, and Satan

I will make a startling admission to my readers.  You might want to sit down for this massive, earth-shattering confession!

I have never, ever trusted, believed, or liked Joel Osteen or his Satan-led, Serpent-pleasing, sugar-coated, snake oil message. There has never, ever been a doubt in my mind regarding his true allegiance.

I have taken grief from many for my views.  I have been called judgmental.  I have been told I have no right to question that "fine man of God".  I have been told to check for a log in my own eye.

But ladies and gentlemen - Joel Osteen (and his wife Victoria) have repeatedly given every evidence, from a biblical perspective, for genuine believers to witness that the couple have far more than a splinter in their eye - they have a dozen tractor-trailer loads of garbage hanging out of their eyes (and mouths)! Jesus said if we acknowledge (confess) Him before men, He will confess us before our Heavenly Father, but if we do NOT acknowledge Him...  You get the point.

Time any again, Osteen has had a very public stage to profess, acknowledge, and show forth that Jesus Christ is Lord.  That Jesus is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Light..  That NO man can come to the father, but by Jesus alone.  This comes directly from the very Word of God that Osteen professes to preach... despite such a drought of even a complete verse from scripture gracing his lips as he spews his prosperity-gospel bile. Time and again, Osteen has even stated that he cannot say for sure that Jesus is the only way!

But recently, news has been made (and the truth about the Osteens been very publicly spotlighted) by what his wife Victory has stated.

“I just want to encourage every one of us to realize that, when we obey God—we’re not doing it for God, I mean that’s one way to look at it—we’re doing it for ourselves, because God takes pleasure when we’re happy. That’s the thing that gives him the greatest joy this morning. So I want you to know this morning, just do good for your own self. Do good because God wants you to be happy. When you come to church and when you worship him, you’re not doing it for God, really; you’re doing it for yourself, because that’s what makes God happy.”

What did she say? She tried to temper her statement, but there really is no hiding the self-serving, self-centered mission - both personal and organizationally of the Osteen circus.

But lets be brutally honest - tens of thousands (some numbers as high as 30,000) "worship" at the Osteen Temple on a weekly basis.  Countless millions outside that building, across this nation, and around the world, hang on every word that drips from Joel and Victoria's mouths.  Undoubtably, there are many of the "faithful masses" of Osteen disciples who have professed Jesus Christ as Lord. Sadly, one has to wonder how a supposedly born-again Christian can swallow the anti-Christian bile that the Osteens hurl.  But one only has to open scripture to see a resounding and clear explanation that would be wise for us all to ponder on, pray on, and remind others of:

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

2 Timothy 4:3

The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail...But what about Apathy?

Jesus said in Matthew 16:18

"I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

But what exactly did Jesus mean by that?  The common interpretation is that the church that Jesus built in His earthly ministry would not succumb to Satan's attacks - that His church could not be defeated.  While this is essentially true, it is over simplistic.  Remember the kind of church Jesus planted - the very church that received the Holy Spirit's empowering on the day of Pentecost - it was a true church, a motivated church, a church that was alive as people walked daily with each other in faith, lifting each other up in prayer, words, and unified hearts, minds and worship of the Lord.  The church Jesus planted was not a church focused on "survival" - with hand wringing over how to get bodies in the pews, and offering plates filled with dollars.  It wasn't a church made up of people more concerned with personal comfort, convenience, and preferences. 

No - Jesus built HIS CHURCH, that was a suffering church.  Not that they desired to suffer, but it was a church based upon the willingness to suffer, sacrifice, and give up all for the sake of Jesus Christ.  It was a church willing to GO (Matthew 28:18-20), to reproduce, to see lives changed through the Gospel.  We see in the church Jesus built, a life of self-sacrifice of joy in sufferings, and strength in weakness.  

No - the church that Jesus builds is impervious to the attacks of Hell because the church, made of of individual, genuinely born-again Christians who are called together in the local context with the purpose of glorifying God - are all focused on Jesus.  They don't "forget their first love" as Jesus wrote to the Ephesian church (Revelation 2:4).  Instead, they are drawn together ever-tighter as they serve together - serving the Lord.

Unfortunately, Satan (represented by the the Gates of Hell) has won victory after victory over churches who have forgotten their "First Love".  While we often focus on the other letters dictated by Christ to the 7 churches in Asia Minor (Revelation 2-3), and what He had against them as being false teachers, false doctrines and such - a very real problem that has exhibited itself in many "churches" over the years and particularly of today, one of the most insidious ways Satan and the Gates of Hell prevail against a church is through the quiet death of "Apathy".  

Apathy doesn't usually develop over night.  Apathy comes when the church becomes "comfortable".  Some of my readers have witnessed formerly alive churches that have built fine facilities, then grew cold in their comfort.  Others have seen congregations evolve as they age - seeming to "retire" from their service to the Lord.  And yet for others, it is simply the excuse that "we just cannot seem to connect with our community any more".  Yet every one of these excuses and patterns are contrary to scripture.  Which Apostle or member of the first church in Jerusalem, or any of the others in the New Testament, are described as "retiring"?  Which character in the New Testament is depicted as having "done his (or her) fair share"?  You won't find any of these - as the Biblical pattern is for those called by God to faith is that they serve with a passion until they day they die!  God NEVER called anyone to serve Him without empowering and enabling them.  When we say "I can't" or "we can't", this really means "I won't" or "we won't"!  And it goes back to pride and our own comfort and preferences.

One of the most convicting passages on this subject comes from the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I mightwin more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

How many of us even begin to consider taking on this attitude in serving the Lord?  As a pastor, I would like to say I do - but far too often, I find myself quite negligent in this area.  I have my own "comfort zone", whether it be in where I go, who I speak to, what music I worship with, and so much more. The Lord calls us all out of "comfort".  He pushes for us to get beyond our "preferences".  This world, this nation, and our very neighborhoods are dying - headed straight for those "Gates of Hell" the Church is suppose to stand against!

How may church buildings remain empty 5 or 6 days out of the week?  How many professed Christians assemble together only when "convenient"?  How many people do we encounter daily who, while we can suspect they are "lost", pass on by without us as much as mentioning Christ?

How many of us know people who have abandoned a church because (supposedly) the music wasn't what they liked, or the preacher was too loud (or sweat too much, or wasn't loud enough), or because people were always "in their business"?  Or maybe how many of us have been the one to leave?

Have you ever gotten mad when a preacher suggested you could do more for the Lord?  Maybe it is conviction!  

Word(s) to the church who expect to stand against the Gates of Hell:

• In all parts of your life, remember who you are really serving - Colossians 3:23-24
• You were bought at a price - so glorify God! 1 Corinthians 6:20
• You KNOW what you SHOULD be doing! James 4:17
• Is your faith alive or dead? James 2:14-26
• What are you willing to become if it means souls are saved and lives are changed? 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 

Are you willing to be uncomfortable for the Gospel?  2 Corinthians 11:16-29

What is one soul worth? Romans 9:13

Life means labor for Christ! Philippians 1:19-24

GO! Matthew 28:18-20

It comes back to this: will we make excuses, or will we simply do all that we can to place ourselves between the lost and Hell?  You can if you will take up the full Armor of God, freely provided for you (Ephesians 6).  Exercise your faith.  Start by stepping out IN Faith!  Use all that God has entrusted to you (your faith, your health, your finances, your TIME, your abilities and talents, your gifts, and ALL) to glorify Him.  Worship in Spirit and Truth.  Pray fervently, without ceasing, and seek where He would use YOU!  All He asked is that we be faithful.  There are no bench riders on the Lord's team.