• Home
  • About This Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Subscribe
  • Comment Policy

Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
Home Commentary Easter Greetings 2021

Easter Greetings 2021

Posted on April 4, 2021 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment


It has been nearly two whole months since I’ve posted. I hope that this note finds you well and I also hope that you have been encouraged by your celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The short reason I haven’t written in a while is that I felt like I had nothing to say that would be helpful to anyone. I mostly write about the church and church leadership issues and I have gone through a period where I was very frustrated and not very positive in my outlook.

I have watched a man take control of what was a good church and turn it into a place where people get hurt and walk away wondering what happened to them. This pastor made a unilateral hiring decision that increased the rate of decline by bringing another pastor on staff who shared his progressive views and had the skills to politically maneuver around the elders who questioned the new direction.

I have watched as the elders who questioned the direction were demonized by the pastors to the point where their only recourse was to resign and walk away. In the past two years, seven elders have been pushed out the door. They hung in there as long as they could to protect the people assigned to their care, but eventually got to the point where they were no longer effective due to lies spread about them.

These are men that I would love to stand with shoulder-to-shoulder, encouraging people in the faith. Every one of them remains qualified for church leadership per the standards set by the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy and Titus. They are godly men yet they were badly treated by the pastors.

These events have been so frustrating, I began wondering what role, if any, I would have in any church moving forward. At work, I expect leaders to be self-promoting, but this behavior should never be part of church life.

But then, Scripture reminds me that God remains in control and the knuckleheads that sometimes rise to the top in churches do not escape God’s notice. God has pronounced some very sobering statements about what happens to those who abuse His people (Jeremiah 23 comes to mind). I am reminded that I can leave this in God’s hands, he will handle it.

The Psalms are full of questions about why evil men seem to prosper while asking God how long he will wait before he acts. It seems that frustration with the status quo has been a nearly universal experience with the saints throughout the ages. Therefore I am encouraged that I am not alone and my prayers do not fall on deaf ears since God saw fit to include similar complaints in the Psalter.

And, I am reminded that God is patient with sinners and his delay is an opportunity for those in rebellion to repent. For God’s patience I am thankful since I am also one in need of grace and forgiveness.

But most of all, I am reminded this Easter that evil will not triumph despite how it looks in the moment. The one weapon of mass destruction our enemy can wield is death. Jesus’ resurrection proves that this weapon has been disarmed. By rising from the dead, Jesus proved he has the power to make things right and his promise to do so will be made good.

Jesus also promised to build his church. I am encouraged that Jesus is powerful enough to accomplish his purpose for the church even when leaders are perverting the gospel by adjusting it to conform it to current cultural norms.

Happy Easter! Jesus is alive and He will build His church. I’m beginning to regain excitement to see what it will look like.


Filed Under: Commentary

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

Follow Attempts at Honesty

Honesty in your Inbox

More than I can handle

More than I can handle

One of the Christian platitudes that I find most irritating is “God will not give you more than you can handle.” Try telling that to Gideon and the 300 men with him as they moved toward a battle with the entire Midian army. Try telling that to Job who, in addition to experiencing the loss of health, wealth and family, had to endure the empty and sometimes harsh words of his so-called friends.

George MacDonald

The Winter of our Discontent – George MacDonald Quote

While reading George MacDonald’s Adela Cathcart, I ran across this quote and thought I’d share it: “It is not the high summer alone that is God’s. The winter also is His. And into His winter He came to visit us. And all man’s winters are His – the winter of our poverty, the winter of […]

Harry Potter

Observations on Fantasy Literature

The intent of this post is not to debate the merits and demerits of the Harry Potter books and movies, it is to make some observations about fantasy literature in general.

James Denney on reconciliation

A reconciled man, preaching Christ as the way of reconciliation, and preaching Him in the temper and spirit which the experience of reconciliation creates, is the most effective mediator of Christ’s reconciling power.

Mind the Gap

The gap between my head and my heart

The problem is that I can maintain an intellectual understanding of Jesus’ teaching while I fail to live it out. I can easily rationalize the gap between what my head understands and what I choose to live out.

Post Series

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
January 2023
SMTWTFS
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031 
« Dec    

Categories

Archives

Blogger Grid
Follow me on Blogarama

Copyright © 2023 · Focus Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in