Servant Leadership is a Fallacy

 Servant Leadership is a Fallacy

 

Picture, if you will, a field of lush, emerald green grass. To the side is a fresh stream of cool, babbling water. In the midst of the pasture is a flock of two hundred, three hundred, maybe more sheep.

 

By and by, the shepherd calls for his sheep. First one, then two, and three hear his voice. Their ears pick up, their eyes fix upon him, and they begin to move toward him. Suddenly the flock sees the motion, hears the shepherd’s voice, and begins to follow. 

 

Can the sheep in the front actually be called leaders? I tell you, they are not. They merely heard the shepherd’s voice first. 

 

Servant leadership is a fallacy. To consider oneself a leader in the Christian world is a true fallacy and the cause of much heartache in the Master’s fields. We are at best followers. We are our best when we are followers. It may be that we followed ahead of some others, but ours is not to look around, organize the flock and determine how best they can follow. The best we can do is to keep our eyes on the Shepherd, follow Him carefully, and allow others behind us to follow the Shepherd in our path. 

 

Marvin McKenzie

In the fields

We are no longer Christians

 We are no longer Christians

Acts 11:26c (KJV)

… And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

 

I didn’t say we are no longer a Christian nation. That places the problem on someone else’s doorstep. I said that we are no longer Christians. We do not have the character of Jesus Christ.

• We are not salt. 
• We have lost our savor. 
• We are not light
• We run from the darkness instead of to it

We are no longer Christians when we behave in a manner that Christ would not.

We may be saved, on our way to heaven, our sins are forgiven, and the Holy Ghost of God lives in us, but we are no longer Christians if “the life that I now live” is not Christ living in me.[1]

 

Marvin McKenzie

In the fields

A video copy of this is available at, Rumble. Click here.

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[1] Galatians 2:20 (KJV)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Should the government Tax Churches to Pay for Universal Health Care?

 Should the government Tax Churches to Pay for Universal Health Care?

This question was asked of me by a concerned member who saw it proposed by a Christian friend.

Of course, very few preachers in the United States are going to jump onboard an idea like that. We all want to keep as much money as we can. Many churches operate in a cash flow crunch, budgeting every dime they receive every year. To add a tax would, in some cases, bankrupt them. This is not, in my opinion, an adequate answer to the question. I am certain it would not be an adequate answer to the money-hungry world, or to those leaning upon the government for their health care. 

My concern is not merely that I don’t like it, but it is unwise, unconstitutional, historically trending, and unbiblical.

It is unwise

Churches exist for a purpose other than the health of the nation’s people. Churches exist for the spiritual well-being of people. To burden churches with a duty that is not their own will distract the churches from their purpose and ultimately lead to the further damage of the spiritual condition of our country.

It is unconstitutional

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The United States Constitution forbids the government from interfering with church function. To place a tax upon churches affects both that church's establishment and its free exercise. 

It is a historical trend

Social Security effectively took from the American family, and from local churches, the responsibility and then the ability to care for its own. Some would argue that the government took upon itself that role because family and churches were not doing it well enough. Can you honestly say the government is doing it better? We are bankrupting our government with healthcare and other things government should not have its hands in so that now this conversation is taking place because the government has to find new sources to pay for what they now realize they cannot pay for and have never paid for well.

It is unbiblical

The whole concept of allowing churches to exist tax-exempt finds its roots in the Old Testament. The tribe of Levi was separated from the rest of the tribes to belong wholly to God. They were not to carry the same responsibilities as the other tribes in terms of government service, taxes, or other burdens. They were to be cared for through the sacrifices and offerings of the people. They were not given a lot, as the other tribes were. They were to be given property, cities, and other necessities throughout the communities they served.

I think one of the problems we have today is that some churches (should I rather say “religious organizations”?)have lost sight of their calling. They have developed elaborate denominational systems. They have built extravagant structures. They have created a perception of incredible wealth protected from government taxing, and providing for an even greater collection of wealth. We need to get back to local churches that know and care for their own congregations.

Marvin McKenzie

In the field

A Response to an Article Concerning the Decline of Cases of the Flu this Season

A Response to an Article Concerning the Decline of Cases of the Flu this Season

An article in the Daily Citizen, posted by Matt Zachary on December 11, 2020, cites CDC statistics and reports that cases of influenza are down 97% from 2019.[1]

 

These are the sort of things that cause us to question everything we are being force-fed about COVID-19. We are confident we cannot trust any of the statistics. We can't trust the number of people who have gotten COVID-19. We can't trust the accuracy of the tests for COVID-19. We can't trust the statistics for the number of deaths from COVID-19. We don't trust the efficacy of the vaccines we are presented with. My father-in-law used to say, "Figures can't lie, but liars can figure." It appears to a substantial number of us that there has been a lot of "figuring" going on.

 

Marvin McKenzie

In the fields

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[1] https://dailycitizen.focusonthefamily.com/where-has-the-flu-gone-cdc-reports-only-496-cases-so-far-this-year-down-97-from-2019/?refcd=873402&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=culture_2020&utm_content=article&fbclid=IwAR3SQ34Nc5fTRiHxB2pDmIDbWv4k9fa2_UTnHt7O8IDk-eFUmE33EhUTJcc

This World Is Not Our Home

 This World Is Not Our Home

 

While Christians sing the old favorite spiritual, “This World Is Not My Home”[1],[2] I think the circumstances of our times demonstrates something much different. I don’t mean to be judgmental. I think I am in the same boat. It’s been so easy to be a Christian and a friend of the world for so very long that most of us can’t imagine any other sort of Christianity. As believers in the United States, we’ve never won every battle, but we’ve won enough of them to believe we would rise up and win again. For the first time in – well – generations, it feels like we may never win again. Government shut down our world. We could easily blame it on leftist leadership but, praise the Lord, we had an election coming up. We would show those corrupt politicians then. But we didn’t. For all practical purposes, we gained nothing at the ballot box.[3] We might even have lost ground. 

And now those “corrupt” leftist leaders, still in power after the elections plan to lock us in again. This time we have no pro-American president to call out to. This time we have no election looming in the not-too-distant future to look forward to. This time we are stuck. We have some glimmer of hope in a more conservative Supreme Court and perhaps in the recount of the ballots, but honestly, we all believe we’re up a creek without a paddle.

And many of us are scared. Maybe all of us are scared. Our livelihoods, our homes, our comforts – our very way of life is now threatened. 

 

It might even become illegal to go to church!

 

This World is Not My Home.

 

But we want it to be. We want our security back. We want our comfort back. We want our success-driven, prosperity thinking, easy living Christianity back.

·       We have become too dependent on credit

·       We have become too attached to our possessions

·       We have become too trusting in government

·       We have become too connected to property

·       We have become too in love with life[4]

 

We have taken our faith too much for granted.

 

What if we lose it all?

 

So what!

 

Most of the world knows nothing of the sweet privileges Christians in America have known. In places like China, North Korea, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, just living is a challenge. Yet there are Christians thriving in their faith.[5]

 

Why?

 

How?

 

It’s because they accepted from their birth that this world is not their home. They’ve never expected a free pass just because they are saved. They did not call out to God to make them prosperous. They called out to Him to forgive them of their sins and to grant them a new citizenship.

Should we expect more?

 

Hebrews 11:8-10 (KJV)

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

 

 

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[1] This World Is Not My Home

This world is not my home I'm just passing through my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world anymore O Lord you know I have no friend like you if Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do? the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world anymore 1.      They're all expecting me and that's one thing I know my savior pardoned me and now I onward go I know He'll take me through though I am weak and poor and I can't feel at home in this world anymore O Lord you know I have no friend like you if Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do? the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world anymore 2.      Just up in Glory Land we'll live eternally the Saints on every hand are shouting victory their song of sweetest praise drifts back from Heaven's shore and I can't feel at home in this world anymore O Lord you know I have no friend like you if Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do? the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world anymore

 

[2] Actually, I wonder if more progressive churches do sing this favorite?

[3] That’s just a figure of speech. I know almost none of us actually had a ballot box to go to.

[4] I refer you, dear reader, to Patrick Henry, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

[5] I said, in their faith, not economically.

I Am Still

God said, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Psalms 46:10 (KJV)

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Don’t be upset. I know what I am doing. I am simply playing with a word. Allow me to play and, perhaps, as you would watching a child at play, enjoy it.

God said, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

I am still.

Because I know Him to be God, I am still.

I am still a believer in Jesus Christ.

The years of worldly wisdom, exposure to disappointments, and even some disillusionments have not soured my faith in Christ. I came to trust Him as my Saviour at the age of 18. Since that day, I surrendered to preach the gospel, got married, raised my children. My wife and I have forty years of marriage. We’ve seen heartache and hurts. But Jesus has not failed us. I am still a believer in Jesus Christ.

I am still the same kind of Baptist I was when I was baptized.

I was baptized into the membership of an independent fundamental, Bible-believing Baptist Church. I am still a member of the same type of church to this very day. I went off to Bible College. I have served in four churches since then. I am still the same kind of Baptist I was when I was baptized.

I still have the same kind of personal separation.

I still listen to the same type of music. I still wear the same type of clothing. I still read and study a King James Version of the Bible.  I still believe in living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. And I still believe those things are defined as I was taught when I began my Christian walk. I still have the same kind of personal separation.

I still hold the same doctrinal Baptist distinctions.

The Lord exposed me to enough types of denominational doctrine that I knew all that was taught in the name of Jesus was not of the Lord. By the time I had found my way into an Independent Fundamental Baptist church, I had been exposed to the Presbyterian church, the Christian Church, the Southern Baptist denomination, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Nazarene Church. I didn’t buy into the Baptist doctrine without some investigation, but when I did buy into it, I bought it lock, stock and barrel. I still hold to the preservation of Jesus’ Church through John the Baptist. I still hold that the only authority to baptize is in a Baptist Church. I still hold that the Lord’s Supper is for the local body alone. I still hold to Biblical authority, autonomy of the local church, priesthood of the believers, two ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper, individual soul liberty, saved, baptized church membership, two offices: pastor and deacon and separation of church and state. I still hold the same doctrinal Baptist distinctions.

God said, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

I am still.

Because I know Him to be God, I am still.

Marvin McKenzie

In the fields

Is Missions Support Broken?

I recently read a piece written by a missionary. He gave eight reasons why he believed the current system of missionary support is broken and needs serious repair. As far as I can tell, current missionary support is the best it has been in history. The stories of what the Anabaptists did to reach other fields is another short of heroic. Hudson Taylor’s stories of support on his field are stuff faith is built upon. Modern missions agencies sometimes blame the poor support, or lack thereof, for David Brainard’s early death. I am not sure there would ever be a means of missions support that would be perfect and would not require faith. I do not know his personal situation and am I sure that, given the fallen nature of humanity, there have been missionaries unnecessarily hurt through carelessness, or worse.

I do not believe it is my place to give this missionary’s name or to repeat his points in full.[1] My eight responses are meant to serve as solutions to his objections. They lose some weight without the context but here they are.

 

"This is in no way meant to be a slam. Honestly. As a pastor, I have a few struggles too. But here are some solutions I have thought about.

1. Praise

There are people who literally work to retire to do what you do and travel the country.  It can be brutal. But look for the praises.

2. Trust

Trust God and resist the temptation to compete.

3. Transparency 

Be yourself. You don’t need the support as much as you need integrity.

4. Honesty 

Don’t pad your letters. Tell the truth. If you have a real relationship with the churches, they will enjoy that.

5. Perspective. 

You don’t create your revenue. God provides for you.

6. Reproduction

You should honestly be asking God to send you only to those churches whose ministries reflect yours enough you can represent them. The church down the road is there for a reason.

7. Christ

He is with you. Many if not most pastors also never get pastored. They learn to lean on Christ.

8. Retreat 

I promise you I am exhausted too. But I have a day of rest promised me."

 

I should say that this missionary responded to my points in a gracious manner.

 

Marvin McKenzie

In the fields.

 

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[1] Here is the gist of his eight arguments. 1. Years spent travelling cross country at great risk to personal safety 2. Professionalism 3. Politicking 4. Reporting 5. Lifestyle of Hiding 6. Camps 7. Being unknown 8. We’re exhausted