Do you remember that famous YouTube video, shot at an African watering hole, of a lion, a croc, and a herd of wildebeests? The lion is seen stalking the wildebeests until he spies one of the young, weak ones. He charges the herd and pounces, carrying off the young. Meanwhile the croc, grabs the same calf from the water. While all this is going on, the wildebeests regroup, charging the lion and the croc. The great bull leader charges down on the lion, horns flashing until the lion lets go and the young calf escapes.
Tonight, I felt as if I had seen it all over again. Only this time it wasn't the great bull of the herd. It was our moderator, Andy Putnam. And it wasn't a watering hole. It was the floor of Synod, in a worship service.
Tonight Andy preached on Acts 20, about wolves among the flock. Without mentioning names, Andy identified the wolves as people who want to be leaders, who crave attention, who desire to divide and conquer us by petty differences and by doctrinal peccadilloes, who would sacrifice our unity to excessive purity. To these people, Andy suggested three remedies.
First, identify them. It's no use being nice about it. Call division what it is.
Second, shoot-em. Not literally, of course, just don't let them go unanswered.
Third, starve them, Whatever you do, don't let them get started with divisive talk.
Andy's a nice guy. I've known him for years. He bends over backwards to maintain unity and peace within the church. That is how he got to be moderator. Everyone likes and trusts him.
But apparently, the bull also has a pair of horns.
We ARP's have been for a long time like herd of wildebeests, feeding peacefully together, safe and secure in our own little corner or the world, oblivious to the predators who strike and divide. We've been for too long that way. Well, no more. Andy has shown us how to bellow when necessary. I hope others will speak up in defense of the flock and the Gospel as well.
There's a famous poem by an Austrian pastor written during the Nazi occupation.
First they came for the Communists
But I did not speak out
Since I was not a Communist.
Then the came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Since I am not a Jew
Then they came for the labor unionists
But it was silent
Because I am not a labor unionist
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left
To speak out on my behalf.
Once we allow people to misrepresent others as unbelievers, to complain against those who do not deserve it, misrepresenting them, maligning their reputation and driving them out, how long will it be until we ourselves are driven out as well.
I do not agree with many things at Erskine, or for that matter in the rest of the church, but I am brother to them all.
Those who would disturb our peace deserve our prayers. Many of them are sincere. Those who are not need our prayers even more.
But let's all circle around and guard the herd, as Andy suggests, and maybe then we can see the church grow and prosper again.
Tonight, I felt as if I had seen it all over again. Only this time it wasn't the great bull of the herd. It was our moderator, Andy Putnam. And it wasn't a watering hole. It was the floor of Synod, in a worship service.
Tonight Andy preached on Acts 20, about wolves among the flock. Without mentioning names, Andy identified the wolves as people who want to be leaders, who crave attention, who desire to divide and conquer us by petty differences and by doctrinal peccadilloes, who would sacrifice our unity to excessive purity. To these people, Andy suggested three remedies.
First, identify them. It's no use being nice about it. Call division what it is.
Second, shoot-em. Not literally, of course, just don't let them go unanswered.
Third, starve them, Whatever you do, don't let them get started with divisive talk.
Andy's a nice guy. I've known him for years. He bends over backwards to maintain unity and peace within the church. That is how he got to be moderator. Everyone likes and trusts him.
But apparently, the bull also has a pair of horns.
We ARP's have been for a long time like herd of wildebeests, feeding peacefully together, safe and secure in our own little corner or the world, oblivious to the predators who strike and divide. We've been for too long that way. Well, no more. Andy has shown us how to bellow when necessary. I hope others will speak up in defense of the flock and the Gospel as well.
There's a famous poem by an Austrian pastor written during the Nazi occupation.
First they came for the Communists
But I did not speak out
Since I was not a Communist.
Then the came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Since I am not a Jew
Then they came for the labor unionists
But it was silent
Because I am not a labor unionist
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left
To speak out on my behalf.
Once we allow people to misrepresent others as unbelievers, to complain against those who do not deserve it, misrepresenting them, maligning their reputation and driving them out, how long will it be until we ourselves are driven out as well.
I do not agree with many things at Erskine, or for that matter in the rest of the church, but I am brother to them all.
Those who would disturb our peace deserve our prayers. Many of them are sincere. Those who are not need our prayers even more.
But let's all circle around and guard the herd, as Andy suggests, and maybe then we can see the church grow and prosper again.
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