The 3rd Most Listened To Carey Nieuwhof Podcast Of 2021

CNLP 422: Gordon MacDonald on the Damage Driven Leaders Create, Hitting the Wall in Leadership, and Getting Healthy

Carey writes:

One of the most listened to guests in the history of this podcast, pastor and author Gordon MacDonald returns to discuss the damage that driven leaders can create in their drive to get things done. He also talks about how he hit walls in his own leadership and what he did to improve himself.

In Gordon’s words, “Driven people produce shallow followers,” and he explains how to move from a place of “drivenness” to a much healthier place of calling.

 

 Here's Carey's page about the episode with extra information, links etc.

Biblical Principles For Churches Wrestling With Vaccine Mandates

Pastors and other leaders have had to wrestle with issues they never saw coming. Who should they "allow" to come to worship - the vaccinated only, everyone? Churches have divided by arguments over vaccine passes. What principles should guide us in this incredibly complex time?

George Wieland, Director of the Carey Centre For Mission Research and Formation, has written identifying some of the biblical principles he see as being relevant. It is an article that has received a lot of affirmation and it might be valuable for all of us to ponder prayerfully.

Anxiety: There Are Things We Can Do

There is a huge amount of anxiety around. We hear reports of the anxiety amongst children, let alone adults trying to cope with an uncertain and threatening world.

Josh Weidmann has put together 48 things you can do to relieve anxiety. They come from his own experience and they are practical. They are things we can do and it is only in doing them that the results will be found. They are also Christian. Peace is found through the Prince of Peace. It is the knowledge that God is still in control despite the apparent chaos that allows us to relax.

These might be useful for you or someone you know.

May God give us all His peace.

pastor's Wife Might Be Imprisoned For Quoting The Bible

This video speaks for itself. It is another example of the restrictions being imposed on Christians who believe the Bible. Keep praying for our nation as well as so many others following this same pathway.

Why John Cooper Is "Brazen" About Deconstruction

John Cooper is the lead vocalist, bassist and song-writer/producer for the rock band, Skillet. He has recently spoken forcefully about the "epidemic" of Christian influencers, often musicians, who have "deconstructed" their faith. The strength of his assessment has brought criticism which he answers in this article (actually, a Facebook post).

People use "deconstruction" to describe different things and that is part of the problem. Cooper distinguishes between reading the Bible seeking to discover its truth even if that means abandoning some former beliefs, on the one hand, and simply questioning traditional Christian beliefs, perhaps on the basis that the Bible is not reliable, or God is a moral monster, and encouraging others to abandon their faith, on the other. He says the first is what we should be doing all of the time, It is the second that concerns him. It is people's attempts to destroy other's faith that causes him to speak strongly.

Read the article yourself and tell us what you think.

 The Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Act has now been passed by our parliament and is the law in our country.

Despite the "chilling effect" of this legislation, this video from Family First encourages parents, counsellors, faith leaders etc and those who are seeking counselling or unwanted sexuality or gender issues to "keep going" upholding God's truth on sexuality and gender. Bob McCoskrie emphasises that this must be loving and gracious, avoiding coercion and any abusive methods but by being faithful, we will be in the right side of truth.

He cites the example of Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego who refused to bow down to a statue of the emperor even if God did not rescue them.

You would not think that acting lovingly and graciously, or acting in line with one's conscience would be unlawful but, in our country, it now is. The video is, in that sense, counselling us to break the law. What do you think about that? Is this a sufficiently important issue that Christians may have to keep going?

Carey Nieuwhof's Most Listened Podcasts #4 - Steve Carter

 The fourth most listened Carey Nieuwhof podcast of 2021 featured Steve Carter.

Carey wrote...

In 2018, Steve Carter was one of the named successors to Bill Hybels at Willow Creek. At 38, he was poised to become the senior pastor of one of the largest and most influential churches in America.

Steve talks about the devastating revelations about the ongoing abuse that had been happening under his predecessor’s leadership, leaving Willow Creek, what crisis taught him as a young leader, and why character matters so much.

Again, these podcasts can be found on Carey's website or on your favourite podcast site but here is the YouTube version. You can click in the bottom right corner to make it full-screen.

Conversion Practices Prohibition: Should We Care?

Last night the Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill passed its second reading with only 7 of the 120 MPs opposing it.

Does it matter? How serious is it really?

I suspect it depends how it is implemented. It might be more symbolic than anything. There might be very few prosecutions. On the other hand, if there is a zealous desire to put it into practice, there could be very serious consequences for many groups, including Christians.

At its worst, the new law will:

• prevent parents from expressing any negative view towards a child who says he/she wants to transition to the other sex (e.g. a parent telling a 12-year-old he/she cannot go onto puberty blockers but rather wait),
• prevent counsellors from discussing other options with a person who says he/she wants to transition,
• prevent Christians from expressing a biblical view on gender or sexuality issues where that is seen as seeking to persuade a  person.
• That, of course, will include preventing Christian pastors and leaders from giving biblical advice. Prayer is explicitly included in the legislation as  "conversion practice" and so would be illegal.

That means that the legislation would also prevent a person wanting to explore his/her gender identity or sexual orientation from hearing different views. This Bill will enforce one view only.

It is noteworthy that the legislation is clear that this refers only to conversion practices opposing gender fluidity or homosexuality. It will be legal to pursue pro- and pro-homosexual "conversion practices".

At its worst, the legislation would seem to deny some basic human rights:

• the right to seek advice and determine one's own future
• the freedom of speech and opinion
• the freedom of religion, including the freedom to practice that religion

Christians could end up in prison for no reason other than expressing biblical teaching and caring enough about people to speak honestly and lovingly to them.

There might still be amendments proposed during the third reading of the Bill. Please make this a matter of urgent and persistent prayer.

See the new Zealand Christian Network's "Urgent Prayer Alert".

American Evangelicalism: Despair And Hope

"Evangelical" has become a dirty word in the USA. The movement is in a crisis and attitudes towards American evangelicalism spills over into New Zealand. Kiwis see news items about what are described as "evangelicals" and they reinforce their scepticism, providing more data supporting their negativity towards New Zealand Evangelicals.

Unfortunately, some of that negativity is deserved. There is much that is wrong with American evangelicalism and we need to reflect objectively about New Zealand evangelicalism. Not all of the criticism is fair by any means. Some of it simply reflects a dislike for Christianity or a desire to continue living selfishly without being challenged. Nevertheless, Evangelicals might need to pray, with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Ps 139:23-24).

On February 4, 2022, the New York Times published an article by David Brooks entitled The Dissenters Trying To Save Evangelicalism From Itself. It is worth a read. The comments below the article are largely critical of evangelicalism. What has gone wrong that Evangelicals have such a bad name?

I do not understand the situation well enough to provide any sort of proper analysis but these thoughts occur to me.

• There is a growing division within evangelicalism. It is easy to see why people think evangelicals are hypocritical when they proclaim unity and love but are deeply divided and at each other's throats.
• It is easy to see why people think evangelicals are hypocritical when they have spoken loudly about issues of immorality yet defend immorality in their own context, or for political reasons.
• When the church becomes allied with politics, it suggests a lack of dispassionate rationality. People across the political spectrum are sinners like the rest of us. No party is always right or always righteous. A less partisan approach that sees strengths and weaknesses in all parties and their policies might allow for better communication and less division.
• Many people, but young people in particular, are walking away from evangelicalism but not necessarily from Jesus. What they see in the organisations and institutions is incompatible (in their view) with what the Bible teaches.
• Much of what is rejected is indicative of the church having abandoned some fundamentals of the Christian faith. How much different might it be if...
• Jesus' prayer for unity led to humility and attentive listening, grace and submission rather than anger and rudeness? Political agreement has become more important than Christian unity.
• Sins inside the church were acknowledged and humbly confessed. There have been examples of sexual sin, racial prejudice, discrimination and injustice against whole groups (women, LGBTQ+, foreigners, etc.) that have been denied or justified.
• There was a focus on the power of the gospel to change a society more than political manoeuvring and aggression.
• Serving was a higher priority than power.
• Church structures and practices seem out-of-step with a genuine Christianity. As the article says of younger people (represented in this case by seminarians at Fuller) "They want to build communities that are smaller, intimate, authentic, which can often fit in a living room. They see faith as inseparably linked to community service with the poor and marginalized. There’s a general interest in getting away from all the bitterness that has devoured the elders and just diving back into the Bible."
• In the past, Evangelicals have been at the forefront of social reforms and fights for justice. Many in our world are deeply concerned about injustice yet the church today sometimes criticises that concern or demonstrates its own tendency for injustice. Can we have a passionate concern for justice that integrates perfectly with the gospel and with biblical fidelity? Are they really enemies?
• Many Christian groups that have developed a strong social conscience have also de-prioritised evangelism. We see that and become suspicious of social justice issues but can we hold tightly to both?
• Some so-called justice issues are at odds with what the Bible teaches. Others are very biblical. Can we discern which is which? Abortion is one example. Many American Christians ignored Donald Trump's moral character simply because he expressed a conservative view on abortion. Our support needs to be more nuanced, recognising the good and the bad. We should not feel that we have to be 100% this or 100% that. It is not about being left wing or right wing but about being biblical, which will include elements of both.
• The article suggests there is a re-aligning of allegiances within evangelicalism. If two, very different, forms of evangelicalism emerge, what do you think will be the characteristics of each?
• The article states that "Over more than a century, Catholics have established a doctrine of social teaching that helps them understand how the church can be active in civic life without being corrupted by partisan politics. Protestants do not have this kind of doctrine."
• Tim Keller's plan for renewal (outlined in the article) might have a lot going for it and warrant serious discussion and action.
• The article ends positively. It concludes by saying that modern, individualistic society has left people disenchanted. They long for something more communal and that gives life transcendent meaning. "Christianity is a potential answer for that search, and therein lies its hope, and the great possibility of renewing its call."

Please share your thoughts. What does authentic Christianity look like?

Carey Nieuwhof's most listened podcast #5: Ed Stetzer

Canadian pastor, Carey Nieuwhof is a popular blogger. He has listed the top five listened to/downloaded podcasts of 2021. I will post links to them here - one per day, starting at number 5.

Number five is an interview with Ed Stetzer including some analysis of what is happening in society - and leadership in that context. On Carey Nieuwhof's website, the interview is described this way...

Ed Stetzer talks about the moment in history we’re seeing as being a cultural convulsion that’s making it exceptionally challenging to lead.

In this wide-ranging interview, Ed talks about QAnon, Trump-ism, why evangelicals gravitate to conspiracy theories and what he sees as an evangelical reckoning. Surprisingly, it’s a potentially healing conversation many reasonable leaders will find encouraging.

Welcome to Episode 426 of the podcast. Listen and access the show notes below or search for the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.

Plus, in this episode’s What I’m Thinking About segment, Carey shares five principles that will help you lead with love.

Clearly, this is somewhat USA centred but the issues ripple into our context as well.

The podcast can be found on Carey's site using the links above but are also on YouTube.

Feel free to comment. What should we learn?

The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill

 

I have listened to only the first episode so I cannot comment further but this series of podcast has been recommended to me.

Mars Hill was a phenomenon. In 1996, Mark Driscoll planted the church. By 2014 it had grown to include 15,000 people, in 15 location, in 4 states. But by January 1, 2015, it had spectacularly, and publicly, collapsed.

This series of podcasts investigates what went wrong. And a lot went wrong. It emphasises that the blame is not all laid at the feet of Mark Driscoll. It explores also the culture of churches, and the external criticism and negativity. There has been something of an epidemic of ministries failing to the point of the the pastor being dismissed. What is behind that? It also asks why WE keep letting these things happen. What is OUR responsibility?

We could listen as people finding pleasure in someone else's (another church's) downfall. It would be a lot more valuable listening as people willing to learn and, where necessary, repent.

This is long-form journalism. There are 12 episodes, most of between 50 and 60 minutes although the last two are 2.5 hours long. It is a serious investigation and worth listening to if we seek to learn lessons that might apply even in much smaller churches. Character flaws and bad culture can occur anywhere.

The podcast series has been produced by Christianity Today. Here's a couple of trailers

• First Look: The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill
• Full-Length trailer

The series can be found on the Christianity site of wherever you prefer to get your podcasts.

Please add your comments, extending grace and courtesy.