In 1 Peter 5:2 we are encouraged to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you.” That text has driven me through many hills and valleys within my years of pastoral ministry. I’ve found this observation from Jared Wilson particularly helpful:
“We frequently find ourselves trying to shepherd the flock of God that we want, the one we imagine them to be, the one we want them to be. But God through Peter commands us to shepherd the church we’ve actually got.” (Wilson, The Pastor’s Justification, 30)
I’d like to add a thought to Jared’s. Not only are we prone to try to “shepherd the flock of God we want” but we’re also prone to wish-dream the wolves we’d like to be fending off. It’s always easier to fend off toothless wolves. And it’s far easier to play the man and flex our muscles against those enemies which our sheep have agreed are dangerous. They’ll thank you for standing with them against Farmer Jones’ wolf. But they’ll be far less inclined to sing your praises when you shear the wolf in sheep’s clothing that they’ve buddied up to.
I’ll be specific. For some folks it would take a ton of chutzpah to shout down the godless ideologies within CRT in their context. For others it would take some serious courage to shout down the godless nationalism within their context. The context which God has placed me in would be far more inclined to struggle with nationalism than they would critical race theory. If I stood up in the pulpit on a Sunday and explained critical race theory (which I’d have to do) I don’t believe many of our people would be convicted. They’d be inclined to happily help in throwing rocks at Farmer Jones’ wolf.
There is going to be a much different response if one of the points of my sermon is decrying nationalism. I’d have to pick up the pieces of that truth grenade. We would have quite a few questions to answer. There would be confusion. Some might even be angry. You see, that wolf has teeth and it’s dressed in wool among our people.
I’ll be vulnerable with you for a moment. I can struggle with passivity and with making comfort an idol. So it can be very tempting for me to shout down toothless or distant wolves. But I’m also a man who is dedicated to preaching God’s Word as it is, and when God leads me to Isaiah the prophet and we have to start talking about idols, I know that it’s my calling to pull down the stuff we’re actually struggling with. Ripping out idols always comes with blood-letting. And so I shake in my boots as I preach about nationalism from Isaiah. At times I mince words were I shouldn’t. But I with trembling call out OUR idols.
I’m not interested in listening to (and being) a prophet who calls out other people’s idols. The Pharisees were good at that. They were well skilled in
throwing red meat to their base but they lacked the prophetic chutzpah to speak to their own sin and call out the stuff that threatened to topple the systems that fed them.
Now if you’d allow me a moment to be specific again. This is why I’m a bit flummoxed and discouraged by our seminary leaders calling out CRT. And why I’m not really inspired by letters and emails from our leaders calling for us to stand our ground against cultural progressivism. It’s not that they cannot or should not speak to these. And those “wolves” perhaps are a danger to their particular pen. BUT I also know that the toothy grin of nationalism needs to be sheared among us as well.
What I’m attempting to say is that I’d be far more inclined to listen to these denouncements of CRT if they were balanced by calls against nationalism. But that’s really the rub, isn’t it? Why aren’t we seeing emails from our leaders on this issue? Why aren’t we seeing our seminary heads come together to put out a statement against jingoism? Why don’t we hear many of our leaders discussing the damage to our witness that has been done by our unmoving commitment to one party?
Imagine with me if you will the types of letters and threats at withholding CP funding you’d see if these leaders took that type of stance. It’d be messy. You’d have folks calling for nuance. You’d hear plenty of arguments about why patriotism is a fine thing if put within it’s proper bounds. If our nationalism is tempered by the Scriptures and in submission to Christ, then is it really something that we need to call out? Think of all the damage such a thing would cause. Why? Because that idol is far more prevalent among us. It’s not Farmer John’s idol. It’s ours.
Good word, Mike
Thank you! This is dead on.
This is excellent.
Thanks, Mike.
Good stuff.
Powerful, Mike.
just excellent.
Mike Leake, forget Sunday, can lyou explain CRT to me as concise as possible? You are the leader of your church, preach the Bible and the truth it conveys. Personally, I have never heard a “nationalist” theme sermon , pro or anti . Is singing Gob Bless America on July 4th nationalist? if it is then I have been exposed. I have heard many sermons on the Golden Rule and loving our neighbor but never heard one on CRT. So be a leader , lead your flock, either they will leave or you will know it is time to move… Read more »
Mike, you make very good points about your preaching. However, I don’t think the comparison of your preaching to the statement put out by the seminary presidents holds up. There was a growing concern among some, legitimate or not, that CRT was being embraced by some teachers at some of our seminaries. The statement appears to be an attempt to relieve those fears. If enough people in your congregation believed that you had embraced an unbiblical worldview, whether their concern had any basis or not, you would probably address it to set the record straight.
Actually if we had a number of people slandering our pastoral staff we’d probably deal with that rather than try to appease them.
boom
Well the seminaries aren’t churches. It is not like they can put these people under church discipline. But they can let everyone else know where they stand on this issue and that there isn’t any truth to the rumors. And even in a church, I would think you would want to let the people in the congregation know there is no truth to the rumor. But, maybe that is just how I operate.
Honestly, it’s been my experience that trying to chase down those things only adds fuel to the fire. I think it’s better to let my life and preaching do the talking. Those who want to be satisfied will be satisfied by the truth of your life. Those who don’t aren’t going to be convinced by a statement of affirmation.
Mike,
I think it would be helpful for you to define what you mean by nationalism. This word can mean different things to different people. So some clarity on this I think would be good.
I honestly don’t mean this snarky but being asked to define nationalism actually serves my point. It works better for my article to not really define either that well. Not everyone knows what exactly is meant by CRT. Can you imagine what would happen if they said nationalism is a dangerous ideology and is against the BFM?
No offense intended here but that explanation makes absolutely no sense to me. Why would you want people to misunderstand you or be confused by your writing?
No problem. I’m not trying to say that I want to be unclear. But I’m trying to stay on point. My purpose here isn’t to define either CRT or nationalism. It’s to talk about shouting down distant wolves (however you define them).
So a good diagnostic question would be, “what sins of others might I be quick to decry and what sins of my own am I quick to dismiss as a problem”? That would get closer to the article’s intention.
In response to your supposition….the SBC did not pass any resolution regarding nationalism…it did regarding CRT and now clarifies CRT to contrary to the gospel and BFM…you have the right to disagree as well as those who agree
I understand your thinking with this response. If it had been me writing, I would have briefly my defined my understanding of nationalism and CRT so people could understand the contrast clearly. Leaving them undefined I think opens the door for people to miss the point of your article as it distracts them away from your point.
That’s a fair critique. Here is why I didn’t. But you might be correct. Both CRT and nationalism are hard to pin down. I wouldn’t be able to give a succinct definition that everyone could agree with. This, in part, is why I think the response from our seminary presidents wasn’t as helpful as it could be. Why not come together as the leaders of SBC academia and put out a well-reasoned and scholarly response? Instead they broad brushed. And didn’t clearly define. Yes, I’m doing the same but doing so to say “why cause confusion with one hard to… Read more »
In Mike’s defense, those concepts are almost impossible to define in a concise manner that promotes productive discussion. Flawed ideology rarely presents itself as the caricature that’s so easy to reject.
It comes to us in nuanced ways and from unexpected sources. Sometimes it comes to us in ways that are subtle, barely perceptible, and difficult to articulate. We need to address these issues in a manner that is both true to Scripture and sensitive to our brothers and sisters. People are generally distracted because they read what they want to read.
Mike, I like the focus on preaching and teaching the Bible consistently and live as an example to the flock (also in that passage in 1 Peter) and generally letting that speak to most of the specific and current events/outrages of the day. Of course though making cultural application in preaching and teaching is always necessary. Its not feasible or necessary or even profitable to address every cultural ill or public outcry of the moment from the pulpit – thats kinda like chasing the wind. You are right, Mike. Differing contexts make certain application in our preaching and teaching more… Read more »
There is a church proclivity to argue and focus on cultural norms. The truth is human behavior and sin has been consistent since the garden. It may defined with new names but is the same broken behavior repackaged. Social behaviorist want to argue we are different because of culture. That misses the Biblical point we are not. Sticking with the Bible makes perfect sense.
Romans 10:12 – For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
Critical Race Truth not Theory
Philippians 3:20.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Good point to ponder when thinking about God and country
Paul consistently prayed for his country and people in Romans
That’s the truth Rudd
There is a growing cacophony of voices that falsely equate the danger of nationalism with that of critical race theory. Many pastors will say they refuse to speak out on CRT because it is hypocritical to do so and not also speak against nationalism. Here is the error in this logic: Nationalism is not being taught in our educational system. CRT is. Nationalism is not being promoted in our Christian universities and seminaries. CRT is. The Southern Baptist Convention’s Resolution 9 advocates using CRT as a tool to interpret reality. Nationalism has no such official sanction. Critical Race Theory is… Read more »
Tough to see nationalism as the snarling wolf when it’s a vague concept. Far too much loose language in this whole discussion.
No disagreement there, Plodder the Great. I agree with Mike’s premise/thesis – not so sure (necessarily) about that example – ironically it would depend on how he defines it The fact is the general notion of American nationalism is quite subjective and currently all but inextricably culturally attached to a certain high profile character that divides the bretheren and sisteren here in such a way that makes it difficult to discuss in this context. It seems to me (in relation to the examples) that the nationalism *can* be godless and idolatrous while CRT/I *is* godless and idolatrous. To be clear,… Read more »
One of my goals is to some day write an article that William doesn’t consider to be irrelevant.
Keep the bar high
Clay, You have hit the nail on the head, the preoccupation that many have with “nationalism” is the presumption that it naturally equates with “fascism” which is ridiculous. Pastors (and other Christian leaders) have the responsibility to preach/ teach the whole counsel of God ( not the syrupy sappy stuff that constitutes much of evangelicalism today) and warn of real threats to the flock of God. The threat of “nationalism” is a social progressive red herring, which has the effect of looking for something that is essentially nonexistent in comparison to the real threat of soft totalitarianism from the left. The… Read more »
Not sure I agree that nationalism is a red herring. I agree that the terms are both vague and therefore can be confusing. But there is a syncretism that has taken place in the American church that many see from the outside, but few on the inside recognize. 2 quick examples: When Pence quoted a verse out of Hebrews and changed “fixing our eyes on Jesus” to “fixing our eyes on Old Glory”, not many blinked an eye. Can you imagine if Biden or another democrat had said something like this? A second example is Robert Jeffries and his choir… Read more »
Tim, Hi, there is no doubt that some go overboard with nationalism/patriotism etc in the Christian arena. But most people are level headed in that regard. CRT/I is an integral part of social progressivism and I think should be viewed in that light. The basic problem is that proponents of CRT/I are not tolerant of the views of others and this narrow thinking should be identified for the dangers it poses.
woody
I would argue that “Christian nationalism” is far and away the most dangerous thing happening right now in evangelical Christianity, and it’s not that close to CRT. I can’t name one SBC pastor that preaches CRT, but can list dozens that have fit nationalism comfortably into the pulpit. I mean Eric Metaxas just insinuated that he was willing to die for the cause of Trump..and claimed that God was in favor of a coup. If these were obscure folks, (Jeffries and Metaxas) maybe I could agree that “some go overboard” but these have tremendous influence for so many. Again, if… Read more »
Nationalism is not being promoted in our Christian universities and seminaries.
Worse than that, it’s being promoted in churches and pulpits. And social media, and homes, and on the news, and by our President, and so many other places.
You’ve already got at least one. I thought this was good:
https://sbcvoices.com/what-i-learned-when-my-position-was-mocked/
Awesome. I can go to sleep at night, now.
I’ve put a lot of folks to sleep. Nothing to it.
I would agree that CRT is misguided as an ideological lens to view what aIls mankind, but it might be considered unBiblical to make no attempt to see the world through the eyes of our fellow man. Although we should make every effort to endure that societal structures are the best they can be, structural and cultural changes are a poor substitute for the redemptive power of the Gospel and the fruit thereof. Having said that, it becomes apparent to me that the SBC has long been heavily driven by CT, the parent of CRT. Have we not fought a… Read more »
Mike, the first question that has to be asked is what is your definition of nationalism that you consider to be inherently negative? For me, when I think of nationalism, I think of having an appreciation for one’s country and the difference which your country has made in the world. Specifically, i think of the lives lost of American soldiers in World War 2 – I have visited the American Cemetery in France where 9,000 American soldiers are buried who died in the battles of the Normandy invasion (and they were only 40% of the casualties, 60% of the families… Read more »
It should be the concern every preacher that applied critical theory in popular culture teaches that whites are oppressors against blacks, heterosexuals oppress lgbtetc, the western evangelical church is the penultimate religious oppressor organization and white men as the penultimate economic and cultural oppressor and many other divisive ideas. Our white congregants are being told that they are racist by virtue of being white. They are hearing that “whiteness” is bad and “blackness” is good. Our people are hearing these things when they follow the news and try to figure out why churches, religious and historical statues were being destroyed during… Read more »
How is nationalism an equivalent opposite of CRT/I?
It seems one could address either if it were in the context of idolatry, but one is a worldview that innately disparages and divides and one could be a sense of patriotic love of country, not above God, church, or family.