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What do you do with your Holy Anger? And who is God Using, Anyway?!

Orginally published on Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 8:47 AM
by Todd Rhoades


My friend Greg Atkinson has started a series at his blog called IMPOTENT. In this series, Greg calls out some of the church leaders that he thinks are kind of "whack". His focus this week so far has been our favorite KJV guy and Mike Murdoch. Both of these guys are a definite slice of Christianity that I, personally, find to be out of the mainstream. And they would return the favor, saying that I was unorthodox or heretical.

So much of what I write about here at MMI is about the current events in Christianity. Some involve scandals from the likes of the Ted Haggards, Bishop Weeks, or the pastor that sold he church building out from under his congregation. Some involve really cool (in my mind) ministry innovation like much of the stuff LifeChurch.tv is coming up with these days, or the church we talked about this week that is ministering to waitresses from their local Hooters.

I always find it interesting to see the different kinds of people that God uses. God uses some people to reach Hooters waitresses; others to reach hip hoppers. God uses some to reach upper middle class white folks, and others to reach inner city homeless people. Some reach just hispanics. Some asians. Some are baptist. Some are independent. Some are (shock) mainline.

But... the truth is... we all draw lines in the sand on who we think God is using.

For example, is God using Perry Noble? Of course, my answer would be yes. Is God blessing the work of LifeChurch.tv, Granger, or Northpoint? Again, I would say, yes.

Is God using John MacArthur? Yes, albeit to reach a totally different group of people that are open to that type of style and delivery and mindset. (No difference... Granger reaches people who are open to their style, delivery, and mindset).

Is God using Ingrid, or Ken Silva, or the Lighthouse people? How about KJV man? Ah... it gets a little dicier there with me; only because those people make it their living to tear down people on a regular and consistent basis. They can be mean spirited and not show love. And they set themselves up to be the standard (rather than the Bible) so that anyone that doesn't believe things EXACTLY as they do (i.e. you, me, Perry, Granger, etc.) are heathens. But is God using them? Hmmm... Do I think Ingrid loves Jesus? Yes, absolutely. Does she mobilize and energize her 'sphere' of Christianity to action? Yes. Are there some people who will come to Christ through the ministry of Slice and people that run in those circles that wouldn't accept Jesus at NewSpring? Yes, I'm convinced of it. But is her brand of Christianity good for the majority of people who need Christ and watch how we Christians act before making a decision to follow Jesus? No... absolutely not.

Does God love KJV man? Yep. I think Jesus looks at the KJV only people and smiles. But does God like it when KJV man rags on Perry Noble, or calls Billy Graham an unbeliever? No, and neither do I.

Does God love the prosperity Gospel of TBN and Paul and Jan Crouch? Does he like the manipulation of a Mike Murdoch, or the HBO special of Ted Haggard? Again, I would say... no.

Does God love it when I poke fun or criticize people that He may have called? No... but my question (just like the question people on the other side will ask) is... Who has God called, and who is He using (blessing)?

Truth be told. Ted Haggard makes me angry. So do Ingrid, Ken, KJV man, Mike Murdoch and a slew of others. In fact, many (if not most) Christians make me angry at times. And I'm sure I spread a lot of those feelings in others. But when is it time to show some righteous anger, and when should you just shut up? That's a fine line for me.

So... that's what I'm thinking about this morning. Who is God using/blessing (even if I don't agree with them), and when is the right time to speak up (or shut up)? I'd love to hear your comments. And in the mean time, hop on over to Greg's blog and check out his latest series... then come back here and leave your comment...


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  There are 8 Comments:

  • Posted by sailor scott
    Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 10:30 AM

    1.  Would we have chosen to use Moses or Jonah or Peter?  Likely not.  We only see one slice of these people’s lives in the here and now. 

    2.  In Luke 9:49-50, Jesus instructs the disciples regarding others who were doing miracles in Jesus’ name but not actually following his teaching.  “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.” I would be interested to know how that applies here.  Let God be the judge of men’s hearts and responsible for the carrying out of His ministries?

    Good thoughts!

  • Posted by
    Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 11:34 AM

    Todd:

    You wrote an interesting post, but I think you blurred the line between two things: those people that God is using and those people that God is blessing.  Here’s one paragraph where the two got used at once:

    “For example, is God using Perry Noble? Of course, my answer would be yes. Is God blessing the work of LifeChurch.tv, Granger, or Northpoint? Again, I would say, yes. “

    God most definitely uses everyone in the world to accomplish His will.  God is using the abortionist, the preacher, the beggar, and the President all to accomplish His will. 

    However, can we say that God is blessing someone who is running contrary to His perfect will?  This is where things get a little more complex and we cannot say, “yes,” universally.

    For example, would you say that God is blessing the work of Ingrid Schuleter or Ken Silva?  Or, would you say that God is blessing Joel Osteen, Brian McLaren, or John Shelby Spong?  How about Mark Driscoll or Perry Noble?  This is where we all have those lines in the sand to which you referred, I believe.

    --
    CS

  • Posted by Gman
    Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 1:32 PM

    But don’t blessings come on both the righteous and unrighteous .... God makes it rain on both.

    I think sometimes we like to draw lines but at other times it isn’t quite so easy.

    I think sometimes imagine if those who attack who they disagree with was in turn - turned into an effort in reaching others.

  • Posted by
    Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 4:48 PM

    I just thank God that He uses the weak and the simple like me!

    And He tells us that by their fruit you shall know them.

    He also says that some will preach the Word and do miracles and cast out demons in His name, and He will tell them to depart, for He never knew them.

    Something to think about!

  • Posted by Peter Hamm
    Friday, February 06, 2009 at 7:30 AM

    CS writes

    [However, can we say that God is blessing someone who is running contrary to His perfect will?] We know that nobody is perfect, I don’t think you meant that.

    What is God’s will and wish for us? That we would believe in (trust in… believe on...) the one He sent. Done.

    So, yes, I believe that God must be blessing people I disagree with strongly in either theology or methodology, and using them as well.

    Are they wrong and mistaken about things? Sure. So am I.

  • Posted by
    Friday, February 06, 2009 at 10:47 AM

    Peter:

    “[However, can we say that God is blessing someone who is running contrary to His perfect will?] We know that nobody is perfect, I don’t think you meant that.

    “What is God’s will and wish for us? That we would believe in (trust in… believe on...) the one He sent. Done. “

    You’re right.  I was talking more about the perfect versus permissive wills of God, and not being perfectly in His will, which is, as you rightly said, impossible.  Perhaps I should have phrased it, “Can we say that God is blessing someone who stands opposed to Him?”

    --
    CS

  • Posted by Peter Hamm
    Friday, February 06, 2009 at 2:49 PM

    CS,

    ALL are opposed to him in our sin…

  • Posted by Kim
    Friday, February 06, 2009 at 6:07 PM

    Thought-provoking, that’s for sure.  I have these thoughts a lot as I try to look through others’ eyes at how they see “Christians” in general.  Who is God using, who is God blessing?  I really don’t know.  We can’t all be the same.  I think there is an ear for every “voice” out there.  So long as people are being led to the foot of the cross, I’m OK with it.  As soon as ministry becomes about them, in any way shape or form, I pray that God is merciful and gets them back on track quickly.

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