By Bill Hybels
I sincerely wish that I could have met Pastor Walter Rauschenbusch when he was alive. He sounds like someone who walked the talk, catalyzing whatever action was necessary to meet the holistic needs of those he served. That’s the kind of legacy a guy like me dreams of.
I read Paul’s response and was not at all surprised that he wonders if Willow Creek is an exception within evangelicalism. Many of the larger evangelical churches seen on television are eerily similar to the stereotype he laments. It’s a reality that bothers me, too.
Often, when I’m in a social setting and people learn that I am an evangelical pastor of a large church, the jokes begin: "So, who are you mad at?" Or, "Who are you guys bashing these days?"
It’s tough to laugh back.
I have worked hard to lead our church into the understanding that Christ did not come to condemn the world, but to redeem and restore it.
I have worked hard to teach and inspire every member of our church to be the first person in any social setting to reach across chasms of all kinds—socioeconomic status, race, gender, age, religion, and so forth.
And while I know not everyone in our church actually does this on every occasion, many of them do take the challenge to heart. As a result, instead of becoming divisive Bible-beaters, they have grown into compassionate, bridge-building Christ-followers.
They make me proud.
In more recent years, the other teaching pastors at Willow and I have done talk after talk on issues such as extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS. The response of our congregation has been nothing short of astonishing. Not only have millions of dollars been released into easing these great struggles, but thousands of volunteers have become personally involved as well, offering up their time, their talents, their sweat.
That, too, makes me proud.
To be perfectly candid, though, there is a lot more that Willow and other evangelical churches need to do to address injustice in this world. In my view, we need to be making a more substantial impact in convincing those in elected office to seek peace instead of wage war. Leaders of evangelical churches should be more vocal about environmental matters such as seeking alternative fuel sources and sorting out global warming. One of my favorite old hymns reminds us that, "This is my Father's world." I happen to believe it’s true.
The list of other critical causes is a long one.
The challenge, I think, is to keep forcing the balance between the values of "redeem" and "restore"—a harder task than many people realize, myself included. I am regularly criticized by those who think Willow is too evangelistic, but then the next letter I open is from someone who claims our church is nothing more than a social justice agency. Perhaps this just comes with the territory?
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I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD ALWAYS USE TACT IN THE WAY WE SPEAK TO PEOPLE, AND THAT WE AS LAYMEN HAVE NO RIGHT TO CONDEMN ANOTHER LAYMEN. HOWEVER WE ALSO NEED TO KEEP THE PULPIT HOT! IT IS THE JOB OF THE PASTOR TO SET THE TONE OF THE CHURCH. IF MY PASTOR IS TO SOFT ON SIN THEN IT IS MY JOB TO PRAY FOR HIM AND BACK HIM UP SO THAT WHEN HE IS UNDER ATTACK FROM THE LIBRALS HE DOESNT FEEL ALONE. IF THE PASTORS DONT PREACH STANDARDS THEN HOW ARE THE PEOPLE GOING TO KNOW WHAT THE STANDARD IS. LETS NOT FORGET THAT JESUS OFFENDED ALOT OF PEOPLE, BUT HE WAS ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN. WE CANT ALWAYS PREACH HELL FIRE AND BRIMSTONE BUT IT IS STILL IN THE BIBLE AND NEEDS TO BE PREACHED ON. JESUS SPOKE MORE OF HELL THEN HE DID ABOUT HEAVEN. I BELIEVE IF WE JUST GOT BACK TO BASICS......BIBLE READING, PRAYER, SOULWINNING, AND ATTENDING CHURCH, THEN WE WOULD SEE A GREAT REVIVAL THAT ACTUALLY BROUGHT ABOUT CHANGE IN THIS COUNTRY. ITS ALL WELL AND GOOD TO FEED THE POOR BUT WHY CANT YOU TELL THEM ABOUT JESUS AND SHOW THEM HOW TO BE SAVED WHILE YOU DO IT. LETS GET OUR DUCK IN A ROW AND FOLLOW THE GREAT COMISSION LIKE WE WERE COMMANDED TO.
Michael,
STOP YELLING!! It isn't polite.
A thought Starter from Karl Barth:
I quote from Karl Barth, considered by many non-LDS Christians, to be one of the greatest of the twentienth century's theologians, and author of the massive, 13 volume Church Dogmatics. (Following emphasis is mine)
"In the reality and power of the union of Christ with the Christian, however, their fellowship has also the meaning and character of a union of the CHRISTIAN WITH CHRIST. THEIR FELLOWSHIP WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE IF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WERE ACTUALIZED ONLY FROM ABOVE DOWNWARDS AND NOT ALSO FROM BELOW UPWARDS, IF IT WERE NOT RECIPROCAL.
A justfiable concern for the unconditional predominance of the freedom, grace and decision of Jesus Christ which establish the relationship SHOULD NOT MISLEAD US INTO SUPPRESSING OR MINIMISING THE FACT THAT HIS ACTION HAS ITS CORRESPONDENCE IN THE ACTION OF THE CHRISTIAN. According to the guidance of the New Testament the declaration concerning the communication of Christ with the Christian NECESSARILY INCLUDES A COMPLEMENTARY DECLARATION CONCERNING THE COMMUNICATION OF THE CHRISTIAN WITH CHRIST."
Karl Barth, The Doctrine of Reconciliation, Vol. 4 in Church Dogmatics, ed. Geoffrey W. Bromily and T. F. Torrance (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1936-1962), 4.3:543-44
I'm just curious as to what would both Mr Hybels and Mr Raushenbush response be to a couple of querries:
Is it the Christian way to leave folks of other religions alone, to respect and even encourage their non-Christian faith?
To respect and honor their faiths without trying to convince them in any form or fashion to abandon their faith for Christianity?
To protect their right to live and practice their non-Christian faith?
Thanks.
Is Mr Hybels to respond to all these comments.
He uses generic terms like bible beaters - could you care to define the term and who are typical people he would include in this group - possibly Jesus, Paul, Jude, Augustine? Martin Luther? Calvin?
The tone of his comment seems very humble as he does not dare bash anybody with the bible, and also uses contemporary terms like bridge-buidling. Please also define the term bridge-buidling, what it means and what it doesn't. "Bridge-building Christ-followers" could mean so many things...
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