Denominations

Like it or not (and I don’t), Pastor Joel Osteen has become the church’s spokesman. I guess that comes with being pastor of the nation’s largest church. Lakewood Church in Houston has around 50,000 members. Osteen’s books (It’s Your Time, Become a Better You, Your Best Life Now, and Everyday a Friday) have made him millions. Did you pick up on his theological bent here? He’s certainly having his “best life now.” I have seen estimates of his net worth anywhere from 40 million to one billion. His 17,000 sq. ft. home has six bedrooms, six bathrooms, and three elevators. He and his wife Victoria pay nearly $300,000 a year in property taxes alone on their multi-million dollar mansion. The guy is financially successful; but he sure can’t give an orthodox response when interviewed.

This past week, while on CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Osteen was at it again. This time repeating what he has said before regarding Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith: Mitt’s a Christian and that Mormon’s are our brothers in Christ. Rarely does Osteen say anything with a straight face, the smiling pastor went on to say: “I hear Mitt Romney say that he believes that Jesus is the Son of God—that he’s the Christ, raised from the dead, that he’s his Savior—that’s good enough for me.”

But does Osteen even know that Mormonism rejects orthodox Christianity as the very argument for its own existence and that it clearly identifies historic Christianity as a false faith? Does he know that Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, claimed true Christianity did not exist from the time of the Apostles until he restored it in 1830? Does he know that Mormonism teaches that we are now what God once was (a man) and we are becoming what He now is (a God)?

But as a guy who Michael Horton describes core message as being “God is nice, you’re nice, be nice” isn’t likely to stand for truth—because as many have noted over the years, sometimes the truth hurts. It’s why Osteen has stricken the words “sin” and “judgment” from his sermons; one of his 50,000 sheep might not like it.

This blog isn’t about whether a Christian should vote for a Mormon this fall. It’s about whether a pastor should give legitimacy to a sect that is clearly not Christian.

Al Mohler wrote recently: “It is neither slander nor condescension to state clearly that Mormonism is not Christianity. Taking Mormonism on its own terms, one finds a comprehensive set of teachings and doctrines that are self-consciously set against historic Christianity. The larger world may be confused about this, but biblical Christians cannot make this error, for we are certain that the consequences are eternal” (www.albertmohler.com/2011/10/10).

It is especially why the pastor of the nation’s largest church cannot be confused or make this error, either. But maybe Osteen is the pastor of the nation’s largest church precisely because he’s good at saying nothing. Sometimes the truth hurts.

Pastor Rich Hamlin

April 26, 2012

I enjoy reading our paper’s “Letters to the Editor.” It provides a snapshot of what’s going on out there—a window into society’s soul. But one of this morning’s editorials (TNT, 2-29) provided a window into the soul of a local, mainline church. And I, for one, did not enjoy the view.

The editorial was entitled: “Religion: Not all Presbyterians unhappy.” It was in response to last Sunday’s front page article entitled “Dividing Point” (TNT, 2-26). That article chronicled some of the local Presbyterian Church (USA) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America church’s response to their denomination’s ordaining of gay and lesbian pastors. The article mainly focused on a handful of congregations in the area who have either left their denominational affiliation or are in the process of doing so.

Which prompted this morning’s editorial from a Presbyterian minister who wanted Tacoma to know that he and the church he pastors feel much differently. He writes, “Several Presbyterian churches in Tacoma, including the one I serve, applaud the change which allows the ordination of GLBTQ folks called by God to ministry.” If you are not up on that acronym, it stands for “Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer.” I don’t recall the apostle Paul, when giving qualifications for an elder (pastor) in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, using that acronym. I do know that he insists in both passages that the pastor is “the husband of but one wife.” The Apostle Peter doesn’t list GLBTQ sexual “options” for a pastor in his list of qualifications (1 Peter 5:2-4), either.

It is an amazing thing to watch churches self-destruct. They are so proud to be inclusive, diverse, and welcoming. The pastor’s editorial ended this way: “[We have] experienced significant numerical growth over the past two years, in part due to our inclusive and welcoming attitude.” I remind the pastor that free beer and topless dancers probably would draw a crowd, too.

I wished to know more about their inclusive and growing “church.” Their website talks about fighting hunger, working for justice, and improving the environment. They say they are a place that “blends spirituality with thoughtful reflection on what tradition and experience mean.” I think that means “we have fun and are at liberty to come up with our own truth”—but I’m not sure. If you detect sarcasm, you are correct.

If anybody over at the “GLBTQ Hunger, Justice, and Environment Church” ever stumbles across this blog, I just want you to know that I’m not homophobic, nor am I a “hater,” or a cross-eyed fundamentalist. I’m just a pastor of a local church who believes the Bible, the Gospel, and loves His church; I’m a sinner who gets things wrong and not for a moment thinks he’s figured everything out.

But I’m pretty confident about this one. You might be happy about the direction of your “church”–but God isn’t.

Pastor Rich Hamlin

February 29, 2012  

The numbers just came out and once again, bad news for mainline denominations. They can’t stop the leak. The numbers are compiled by the National Council of Churches and were just released in their 2011 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches.

Here are the five “biggest losers”: United Church of Christ (UCC) down 2.83%; Presbyterian Church (USA) down 2.61%; Episcopal Church down 2.48%; Lutheran Church (ELCA) down 1.96%; and the United Methodist Church down 1%. The percentages may not sound like much but when you look at trends and raw numbers; the leak is more like a hole. The Presbyterian Church (USA) has lost nearly 800,000 people (over 20% of it membership) since 2001. The United Methodist Church has lost 600,000 during that time.

Why? Some Presbyterian Church (USA) pastors, in an open letter to their denomination, say it is because of their denomination’s “unending controversy.” What controversy? Gay ordination gets the headlines. Apparently more is being haggled behind close doors, though. The authority of Scripture, the nature of Christ, and whether salvation can be found in other faiths is now being bantered about. In studying the 2011 Yearbook numbers, sociologist Rodney Stark blames mainline denominational decline on “modernist theology and the transformation of mainline churches into centers for progressive political action.” He sounds right.

It is not coincidental that the churches in greatest decline are the very churches that made such a sharp “left” years ago. When it comes down to it, the chief issue is the authority of Scripture. When that one erodes, homosexuality is no longer a sin and Muslims go to heaven. And the pew empties when the guy (or gal now) behind the pulpit no longer believes the Book.

When these numbers were released, I stumbled on a blog discussing the “why” behind the decline. Two UCC pastors were part of the discussion. It was clear that Pastor Jeff and Pastor Brian (as they identified themselves) still didn’t get it. Pastor Jeff talked about his denomination needing to realize its not the “50’s and 60’s” anymore and that their church’s “social and organizational mentality” needed to change. Pastor Brian said that the UCC was good at “theological change and diversity” but needed to change their approach toward “a conversational sermon, worship in the round, [and] dump the Robert’s Rules of Order.” There was no smiley face after their posts so I gather they really believe that’s their problem. If that’s why they think people are leaving, what will they come up with next year when the floodgates are still open? Newsflash for Pastor Jeff and Pastor Brian; it’s not what you are doing or not doing—it’s what you are now believing and not believing!

And at the end of the day, is it a bad thing if mainline church members are leaving because their church no longer will “stand firm and hold to the teachings…passed on to [them]”? (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Their decline may be God’s way of preserving His church.