Charlie Wear’s Notes

I was reading eric keck’s excellent post about last night’s charity fundraiser sponsored by American Idol. He writes:

doing the stuff… without any explaination… other than the obvious social justice…  (which was implicit and not delved into… but rightly so… a talent search show isn’t necessarily the platform or the motive.)

$30,000,000 for the poor… amazing in ONE night.  i was saddened to watch as i realized that money is a beautiful band-aid

I confess. I am an American Idol fan. I really liked Carrie Underwood, and I thought Taylor Hicks was the right choice last year. And yes, I like Reuben, Fantasia, Clay and Kelly Clarkson.

It just felt odd to hear Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell walking and talking in what I am sure were well-scripted scense through the poverty-stricken conditions in Africa, expressing compassion and really, abhorrence of what they were seeing. And then the videos of poverty-stricken American kids that are going to be helped by the money raised.

Here is what I was thinking: Where is the Church of Jesus Christ? I was wondering what would happen if we spent half as much on marketing, the production of weekend services and facilities and took the surplus money and poured it into attacking the roots of spiritual darkness at the tactical level. Attacking poverty with education and compassion and job training and financial initiatives. Attacking homelessness with clinics and housing and relationship. Attacking hunger and thirst with food and drink. Attacking violence with love. And fatherlessness with the love of the Heavenly Father. Maybe then we wouldn’t celebrate our efforts with a song that proclaims the absence of God and religion and we could imagine just a little bit what the kingdom of God might be like.

Ah well, I am pretty sure that wouldn’t meet my needs. I wonder if the worship leader is going to do my favorite songs this weekend.

It is an interesting time of year for the above entitled article, but leave it to the Los Angeles Times. It seems as though this apologetic for atheism holds it out as just another form of belief, or religion, if you will.One interesting note, it seems that atheism would keep a presidential candidate from being elected, at least, as things now stand.

Several years ago I sat in a pastor’s meeting as the regional overseer made the announcement. A prominent pastor had resigned his position in one of the leading churches in our association. “He resigned because of sin in his life: pornography, misuse of alcohol and prescription drugs. There have been allegations of improper use of church funds.” [It later turned out that nearly every one of these allegations was untrue, and blown out of proportion]
The announcement went on as I thought about the public confession of this man’s sins. “What if other people knew about the secret sins in my life,” I thought. "If my personal struggles became public knowledge would I be judged any more fit than the brother who was the subject of the meeting?" In the harsh light of my own self-examination, I found myself wanting.
I thought: “If they knew me, really knew me, they wouldn’t let me pastor.”
Questions and answers and comments flew around the room. I sensed an undertone of anger and judgment. I felt a personal sense of shame as I heard the leader say: “Now, if any of you are struggling with these kinds of issues, tell us so we can help you.” “Yeah,” I thought, “Help you out of the ministry!”
Now it seems clear that Ted Haggard was struggling with serious "temptation." Unfortunately, it is also clear that he had no one who could share his private struggle and help him carry his burden. Now an opportunist who is attempting to make a political point has accused him. Another sad chapter that points out the reality that even the most visible, and strongest of leaders may have feet of clay.
But here's my question. While others may gloat, who among us is without sin? Who among us is righteous enough to cast the first stone of condemnation? Whatever our politics may be, whatever our theological inclinations, I pray that mercy would triumph over judgment and that devastation in this situation might be minimized.