August 1, 2009

Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)

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I spent a lot of time with a covenant brother, peer, and predecessor on Friday.

We empathized.

He said, "Our recent disappointments are the same. Sometimes even people who love Jesus cannot distinguish between His words and theirs. They begin to think what they say is what He would say. They become messianic. Of course, if you say that to them, they'll..."

Empathy.

It's a popular word and rare experience these days.

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He went on, "They left because I was not spiritual enough for them. They said they were not being fed at the church anymore. It took a long time to realize something; and I want you to listen very carefully to what I'm saying, Bob. It's not about you. It wasn't about me. It was about their relationship with Jesus; and what I've just told you about their messianic complex."

I said, "I've been approached by two churches since coming back from vacation. They want me to interview to be their next pastor. I can't for many reasons; but the most important is I'm called to this one. But I cannot tell you about the pain that I've felt because I love them so much but feel so..."

"Really?" he asked.

"Sorry," I said.

Empathy.

It's a popular word and rare experience these days.

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"The pain of betrayal never leaves," he said, "and as much as I am thankful for you inviting me back without feeling like some others do about their predecessors, the pain never leaves. But, Bob, I've been reading your materials very closely; and your readers and you are right on target. These are not good days to be pastors. It's worse than I've ever seen. When I get close to the church and listen to the pastors who come through my ministry, I'm glad I'm retired."

"As soon as you left," I said, "the good guys and the bad guys went at it. But, and this is what has caused me to tailspin over the past few months, people who said..."

"People say many things, friend," he said.

"Yeah, I know," I lamented even while repeating myself, "tough times don't build character but rather expose it."

Empathy.

It's a popular word and rare experience these days.

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The last KD (scroll down) on Thursday sparked furiously empathetic feedback.

Missouri: "You have a way of telling people to go to hell in a way that they're looking forward to the trip. I want to get out of ministry so badly; but I'm 60 and, well, you know..."

I will never leave pastoral ministry because it's my beruf; and if it's yours, you will stay through the cross to the crown. Read Hebrews 12 or something like that. Get out your old Bonhoeffer books and MLK tapes. Spend more time in prayer than the practice of ministry so the practice of ministry becomes more efficacious. Or something like that. And, oh, yeah, buy your version of a convertible!

Kansas: "I checked out your website. Tell Kathie that she's doing a great job! That picture of you sitting on the bike and knowing how you look in the pulpit and knowing what you stand for is sort of an enigma...I think I know you well enough to know that you are a person of integrity who says what he means and means what he says; but that you actually got one blows me away. You really are a new wineskin."

I won't judge myself because there are so many who like to do that for me. Again, once you allow anyone else but Jesus to define any part of your life, they will feel entitled to define all parts of your life. I prefer Jesus. He loves me unconditionally; loving me just the way I am and loving me too much to leave me just the way I am. When we stop expanding the wineskin, it's time to order a memorial marker. Of course, when you allow people to define you, they've already ordered it for you.

Oklahoma: "Wow! You touched on some raw nerves in the pastoral arena in today's KD! Reminds me of a local pastor whose wife passed away after a long illness. He decided to get a chrome pony and it actually split the church. Seems the congregation just couldn't handle their pastor enjoying something that wasn't dignified!...Perhaps we should send a few of the hard-headed and hard-hearted saints to obedience school with Kopper!"

A friend in California likes to say, "We stay at churches until the minority who hates us becomes the majority." I don't spend much time suffering fools gladly anymore; because I really don't have much time to suffer 'em because most of my time is spent with people who want to kill themselves, think they're dying, are dying, think somebody's trying to kill them, or they're being killed by the meanness, madness, and misery in the modern world. If the minority becomes the majority where I am, that would be too bad because my call for the duration has been confirmed in a plethora of ways; but, heaven, I'm not too worried about that. I got two invitations to candidate as soon as I got back from vacation and I think one of my next two books will sell and... Truth is I have all the time in His calendar for people who are authentically addressing their lives; and almost none left over for people who are trifling and transferring... If I had some extra time, maybe... I am thinking about teaching a Bible study in a local nursing home because, well, those folks have authentic issues rather than making 'em up...

Pennsylvania: "What the hell is wrong with you pastors? Wimps! Tell the pastor in Ohio to skip the convertible and go straight for a full-sized yellow Cadillac and pull it in front of his church! You pastors don't realize that 99% of the people don't give a __ about what the other 1% are so obsessed about! We want you to tell the truth of Jesus and we'll protect you from the ___s. You've got to start trusting us."

O.K., sort of... I haven't been personally threatened by a church since hanging out with black folks in a really white neighborhood. Be that as it was, just one flea can make a big dog itch! Yeah, I know I'm secure; but it's not all about me. It's about those pastors, especially the young ones, who are forced to fit into the less than authentic images of people who want their pastors to be court jesters, good humor women/men, and agree with the last person they've talked to... If it were just about me, I would be just fine. But I can't stand what I'm seeing out there these days. I'm secure and still marketable; so I can get away with, uh, telling the truth, admitting when I'm wrong, and moving on. It's tough for some of the pups, pal! But I'm glad you're out there; and everyone, especially Him, is counting on you!

Illinois: "You said, 'When I die, they'll have ham and cole slaw in fellowship hall, elect another pastor search committee right after the interment, and then tell my family to get out of the manse in a month.' There are good churches/parishioners out there! It may be rare but there are churches out there who really care for their pastors and their families."

Praise the Lord! I agree with you! I'm almost in one! Because I know who you are, I have hope that people like you will look up, stand up, speak up, and act up for the anointed! Parenthetically, I've seen what happens to those who don't. Our Lord has a way of 'getting' those who go after the anointed. Check it out. I don't like to talk or write about it. But it's there. But even in a near perfect church like yours, I want you to keep this in mind. Your pastor said to me a few days ago, "For as long as I can remember, she would tell me how bad everybody else was in the church; but her, of course. Then I realized two things. First, while she was talking about everybody else when she was talking to me, she was talking about me when talking to everybody else! Second, the people who she said were bad when compared to how good she is have turned about to be among the best people who I've ever met in life and ministry." Jesus said something about that...something about wolves in sheep's clothing...

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I've also received some pointed/prophetic words from two of my favorite devotional writers.

Oklahoma: "Read Job 23:10...Better days and greater victories lie ahead. This battle that you're going through won't defeat you, but will define who you are...a champion of faith...a conqueror of tests...a child of God!...The licks you've been taking have cut deep into your flesh; exposing your vulnerabilities and your dependence on Him. Once strong and mighty, perhaps you now feel weak and as helpless as a new-born babe. You have been kicked, bruised, shaken, ridiculed, and cast aside by others. But, as Paul Harvey, would say, 'Now for the rest of the story!' Soon, you are going to shine! This trial is sent by God!...He has sent this test to develop your faith and character, and to qualify you as one fit to share in His glory! He is stripping away all of the pretenses, the facades, the egotism that the old flesh like to parade around...Every time you've taken a hit for Him, He has deposited a little more glory in your soul!...Hold on!...Get ready!...Your time to shine is near!"

Pennsylvania: "My spiritual progress often seems like the old two steps forward and three steps back!...As the pendulum swings inevitably back from misplaced self-confidence to self-condemnation, I check my depression by recalling I am not the first and certainly not the last disciple not to get it...Read Mark 8:14-21...It's not about getting it. It's about getting Him...I am not going to fret over bread today...I don't even care if you've 'got milk' or not. But, do we have Him? Because with Him, all things are possible. If He can feed five thousand, He can feed five. If He can feed five, He can feed one. If He can feed one, He can feed you."

Amen!

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Blessings and Love!

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www.koppdisclosure.com