I suppose the title might offend some readers. The truth about that is that I didn’t put a great deal of thought into it. It’s not intended to be mocking; it’s just the first thing that came to mind when I asked, “What should I call this?” If you read his account of things, and watch the video*, and take note of the language he uses (“crazy,” “weird,” “freaked out,” etc.), perhaps you’ll understand why.
As you may know, Francis Chan is a pastor in Simi Valley, California. He is the author of Crazy Love, a book I have not read, but has received positive reviews by people who are neither crazy nor freaked out. Some time ago, he was featured in an evangelistic video on YouTube that was neither remarkable nor deserving of most of the criticism it received. He is now receiving some attention for announcing that he is leaving his church to go who-knows-where.
Why do I need to chime in on this, especially since Dan Phillips has already said most of what I’m thinking much better than I would have said it? Well, I suppose I don’t, and I don’t want to be guilty of piling on. But I’ve still got some additional questions. Chan, I believe, has set a very bad example for how Christians ought to think — yes, think — about God’s will, God’s leading, and how decisions are made. Since Mr. Phillips has dealt quite thoroughly with Chan’s claim to divine direction, I’ll leave that alone. Still, these questions remain:
Who, other than the voices in your head† Holy Spirit, called you to leave? Who is sending you? Is your church sending you and supporting you, or are you on your own? Under whose authority will you be working? To whom are you accountable?
Without answers to those questions — and this is not one of those cases in which “there are no right or wrong answers” — I have to view whatever work Chan stumbles into as illegitimate, and that goes for certain other high profile, self-appointed church planters and ministry leaders, as well. But that will not be strange territory for the man who explained, “It’s kind of like when I started the church. Lisa and I had been married for like two or three weeks, and I just kind of felt this weird calling by the Lord like I’m supposed to start my own church, and that’s hard to say to your new bride, that she’ll have to support the family . . .”
What? All it takes is a “weird calling by ‘the Lord’” to start a church and — here’s another enormous red flag — dump your primary, God-given responsibility on your wife? “Honey, you’re going to have to do my job so I can go serve the Lord.” I don’t buy it. I don’t buy it because it goes against everything the Bible, i.e. God, says about responsibility, order, and authority.
I want to reiterate that my intention is not to pile on. Chan is not the issue. Erroneous, and dangerous, thinking is the issue. Christians ought not to think this way. “I feel led” is not your get-out-of-explaining-yourself-biblicallly card. Christians must follow the plan mapped out in Scripture — and make no mistake, there is one — or find themselves featured in Judges 17:6.
* Disclosure: I haven’t watched the whole video. It quit mysteriously at about 16 minutes, for which I was grateful. I had had quite enough rambling, mystical mumbo jumbo, thank you very much. In any case, Mr. Phillips assures me that that’s OK.
† I know, I said I’d leave that alone. I just couldn’t resist that one little poke.
TrackBack URL: http://www.thirstytheologian.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1366
Share this post:
Posted in: Miscellaneous
Link · 17 Comments · 0 TrackBacks
← Previous · Home · Next →
17 Comments:
#1 || 10·04·26··11:05 || Daniel
I posted something on this today... though not so bluntly.
#2 || 10·04·26··11:31 || David
You Canadians are too polite.
#3 || 10·04·26··17:19 || threegirldad
Presumption masquerading as faith. No thanks; I have a lifetime of that sort of thing, and the "collateral damage' it leaves behind.
#4 || 10·04·30··13:34 || Lonnie Harris
I asked this question of Dan Phillips today in a comment to his post on the subject:
If God wanted to communicate to me about something that has not been specified in His Word, how would he do it?
I'm talking about a leading into ministry, a prompting to pray for someone, guidance towards some particular path...
#5 || 10·04·30··15:07 || David
Lonnie,
I began answering your question, but I am now tentatively planning to give it more extensive treatment in a post on Monday. In the mean time, if you read psalm 1 and the first few verses of Psalm 37, you’ll have a start on your answer.
#6 || 10·05·03··14:50 || Corey
A few things :) First of all, I love you guys. Secondly, I love Pastor Chan and his wife very much.
I seem to remember a certain Apostle traveling around amongst the New Testament church listening to the guiding of the Holy Spirit and going where he felt "led" at any given time. I think his name was Paul? He even had some crazy dreams that he listened to without running by anyone first. It was pretty wild. But I guess he should've shot an email over to the disciples real quick before jumping up to Macedonia to make sure it was cool with them.
Also if memory serves there were a few of the early disciples who dropped everything, including jobs which supported their wives, in order to follow Jesus. Philip, one of the early church members, had a wife and four virgin daughters and was himself an evangelist. Also something interesting to look at in Luke chapter 8 verse 1-3 it talks about how there were women who were traveling with Jesus and the twelve and the women "provided for them out of their means". This is saying they were giving aid financially to the ministry of the Gospel. Interesting concept.
I'm no scholar at all, I'm just chucking some Idea's around since this seems to be a place to throw things around. Again, I love you guys. :)
#7 || 10·05·03··16:22 || David
Corey,
You’re right, you’re no scholar. Your comment demonstrates that in spades. I suggest you become one before flaunting your ignorance any further. Here’s a place for you to start: bring me an actual citation showing that Paul, or any prophet or apostle, did anything simply because they “felt led.”
#8 || 10·07·15··23:43 || Bryant
2 Corinthians 5:7
Maybe the doubters should follow his lead.
#9 || 10·07·16··07:22 || David
Yes! One verse — not even a full sentence, but a parenthetic clause — yanked out of context! That’ll do it!
#10 || 10·07·16··09:20 || Bryant
I guess if it is just one verse you can't pay any attention to it. And do explain the context, Mr. Theologian.
#11 || 10·07·16··10:33 || David
I didn’t say it should be ignored. I just said it was yanked out of context, and that you’ve made no point by using it that way.
Now, since you think it’s relevant to this post, you explain it in context and actually make a point that pertains to this post if you can. I didn’t bring it, up so that burden does not fall on me.
#12 || 10·07·16··11:32 || Bryant
A. I just finished reading Francis Chan's book "Forgotten God" which talks about a Biblical view and understanding of the Holy Spirit and how it is often neglected in todays church. I would bet that Chan is following the Holy Spirit's lead in leaving his church (or originally starting it). So, 2 Corinthians 5:7 comes to mind because right now, in the short run, something may not make sense. Like in the previous verses, "Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord."(v6) Paul is telling the Corinthians that even though we would prefer to be with the Lord right now (v8), that we can still be confident. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 explain that we must "make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it". I would bet that Chan is trying to please the Lord.
B. To think that you are schooling Chan on what the Bible says about being a husband is hilarious. I feel fairly certain that he understands Ephesians 5, and so does his wife. Chan is about radical obedience (from what i've gathered from his book), not running away from any scary idea that God may call us to, i.e. Luke 9: 57-62 (among others).
C. Sorry for intruding on this website or whatever it is. I'm sure your heart is in the right place and that you have found in the Scriptures why you should contribute to a blog.
#13 || 10·07·16··12:13 || Bryant
I am sorry for the last part of my post. I shouldn't have said that.
#14 || 10·07·16··12:28 || David
A. I don’t doubt Chan’s intentions. However, they are not relevant to this post, which I am beginning to think you have not read.
B. I don’t think I’m “schooling Chan” on anything. I’m not even addressing him at all, but rather those who might be led to follow his example. However, I fail to see what would be “hillarious” about it if I was. Or maybe you’re just trying to be insulting. Anyway, considering your input here, the irony is pretty thick. I do love irony, so thanks for that.
C. Apology accepted. I didn’t really get it, anyway.
You might get the feeling I’m being short and grouchy with you. I’m not. But you are missing the point of all this. The point is not walking by faith. The point is, faith in what?
#15 || 10·07·28··07:32 || David
This post continues to receive comments that have nothing to do with its point. And I continue to remove them.
#16 || 10·12·28··07:16 || Tone
Regardless of the word "feeling" (it is simply semantics). Isn't it important that the Elders of Francis Chan's church confirmed and approved of what he decided to do?
#17 || 10·12·28··11:42 || David
It certainly is not just semantics. It’s fundamental to this conversation. And I would only be interested in The elder’s reaction to his decision after clarifying the authority by which he made that decision. Which brings us back around to the original question: Who, other than the voices in his head, called him?
Comments on this post are closed. If you have a question or comment concerning this post, feel free to email us.