What Are You Reading?

Last week brought the news that Lyle Schaller died at the age of 91. Lyle was particularly prolific in his writings on church organization and programs. One could have called Lyle the “Mr. Fixit” of the Church. I think at one point I had read about two-thirds of his fifty-five books. I was intent on reading a lot about church organization and programs to make the church more efficient and effective. In retrospect I see now that Lyle was writing for the church of the 1950’s, and those of us who we reading him and trying to implement his “fixits” were already behind the times as the Church had already entered a metamorphosis of no longer being what it was. I was a pretty good ecclesiastical mechanic and remained so for most of the years of my active service as a pastor and presbytery executive. The problem was being a mechanic for a steam locomotive in the dawning of the age of bullet trains is a disconnect.

One of the things I am now realizing is I neglected any sustained study of Scripture and theology. The one three year exception was when studying for my D.Min. at Eden Seminary in the St. Louis area. Studying liberation theology under Dr. Meeks and prophetic theology under Dr. Brueggemann did take me outside the drive to be a better mechanic. I can’t remember the names of any of my other professors in that program of study. I remember Meeks and Brueggemann because their classes were the most challenging and exciting.

I had many books stacked up to be read someday. They were still stacked up when I winnowed my library upon leaving my last position. After that I once again immersed myself in my old leisure reading cycle of political intrigue and international espionage fiction. Then at the polity conference last October, Dr. Timothy Cargal referred to an atonement theory with which I was not familiar. I asked him to send me some bibliographical references so I could read more about it. Thankfully, he sent me an abundant list, including the writings of Rene Girard. The first book I read was Girard’s The Scapegoat. I inhaled the book as once again found the challenge and excitement of biblical theology. The book I am now about two-thirds through is Arch Taylor’s God for All: The Biblical Foundation of Universal Grace. I ask myself why I neglected this reading for such a long time.

I have heard it said, “Some ministers have not read a theology book since they graduated from seminary.” Mia culpa, mia cupla, mia maxima culpa! I was too busy reading Schaller and others, and now admit I was one of those. What would I encourage those early in their ministry about their reading habits? I would say the reading which will have the greatest effect on your preaching, teaching and pastoral care are biblical and theological in nature. If these do not fill more of your reading than books on mechanics you are short changing yourself and those you have been called to serve.

There are no magic bullets in the books on ecclesiastical mechanics. I can give witness to that. Lyle Schaller gave a lot of mechanical advice. In spite of the fact that so many of us read his works and endeavored to implement his advice, all the while the church and the world were changing in ways that today make us question if anything was truly improved for the Church.

When I was a kid, on Friday afternoon my dad could pull his 1947 Plymouth Coupe under the apple tree; throw a block and tackle on a sturdy limb; pull the engine; rebuild it and have it ready to drive to work on Monday morning. Try that with the computer controlled vehicles of today. Yesterday’s ecclesiastical mechanics just do not work in the Church of today.

Fear of Failure

How many times do we back off from pursuing an idea or project because we fear failure? What will others think of me if it doesn’t work? How long can I delay before I am forced to take action? I know the situation calls for me to preach on this subject, but some, many, all may not agree. What if we invest significant money, time and energy into a new mission project and it flops before we really get started?

Shakespeare wrote, A coward dies a thousand deaths, a hero only one (Julius Caesar Act 1, Scene 2, Line 32). Yet, many of us in life and ministry are paralyzed by our fear of failure. Yet in the play Macbeth the bard writes, when Macbeth is afraid of failing in killing Duncan, Lady Macbeth responds, But screw your courage to the sticking-place, And we’ll not fail (Acts 1, Scene 7, lines 60-61). Franklin D. Roosevelt, in response to the American economic crisis, said in his first inaugural address, So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.

Scripture is replete with urgings against fear. One of my favorite passages is in Deuteronomy 31:6. The Hebrews stand at the bank of the Jordan. Moses is giving his farewell address. He knows the people are fearsome about engaging the people of the land into which they would be going. Moses proclaims, Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Then there is Psalm 23:4, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. The angle saws to Mary at the annunciation, “Fear not…” The angel says to the shepherds, “Fear not….” Several times Jesus says, “Fear not….” When the women arrive at the tomb they are told, “Fear not….” When Jesus enters the room in which the disciples were gathered he said, "Fear not...."

We fear the dark. We fear fire. We fear storms. We fear economic collapse. We fear terrorists. We fear refusal in asking for something. We fear rejection when asking another for a date or to get married. We fear getting fired. We fear having an accident.  Most of all, we fear of failure.

For a about three weeks I have had an email for access to take the Coach Knowledge Assessment exam for credentialing by the International Coach Federation. I left the email sitting there waiting to be opened. I blocked out three days this week to review and take the exam. Just before Noon I had to admit to myself that I was procrastinating taking the assessment because I feared failing the assessment. Once acknowledging that, I decided just park my backside in my chair and take the exam. Less than two hours later I had passed the exam. My fears were ill founded.

Most of our fears are ill founded. It would be foolish not to experience fear in the face of a clear and present danger. Those are far less frequent than actual. Fear of failure whether in love, preaching, beginning something new, or being tested blocks the accomplishment of that which is most desired.

Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.