Dr. Jerry Johnston, the pastor of First Family Church in Overland Park, came under severe scrutiny by the Kansas City Star this last weekend. I don't normally read the Star (Pravda is available online), and it's usually automatic that I'd jump to the defense of a fellow Christian, but the issues for which Dr. Johnston is being scrutinized speak directly to the blog article I wrote the very same day the newspaper articles were published.
To sum up the articles, which can be found at the Kansas City Star website, Johnston's church is founded, directed, and primarily driven by Johnston and his family and some people question his accountability (and by extension his integrity). I'm actually willing to start with the assumption that Johnston is innocent of anything illegal or overtly unethical; that he is a devout believer and an earnest teacher of Biblical truth. But I also know that Johnston's philosophy of ministry is polar opposite of my own. In fact, I believe it's opposite of how a minister should act.
In my mind the church exists to exalt Christ not the preacher. But a common approach to ministry (encouraged by televangelists) is to make it personality driven, where the preacher is the man and the ministry is an extension of his personality. These ministries often bear the name of the individual preacher and revolve around him. Ministries like this are not uncommon and many are wildly successful, as "success" can be measured by this world. But to me it smacks of arrogance and narcissism and often reflects poorly on Christianity.
I'm not advocating that ministers take a vow of poverty but I would encourage ministers to commit to an attitude of humility. We don't need titles of honor, our name in lights, or to be treated like celebrities (nobody needs a special breakfast with Pastor Jared!). Nor do we need extravagant salaries, cars, homes, or vacations. And if for some reason the Lord does bless a minister with some of those things, that minister MUST be completely transparent or his motives will be suspect.
8 comments:
(you wrote)
"I'm actually willing to start with the assumption that Johnston is innocent of anything illegal or overtly unethical; that he is a devout believer and an earnest teacher of Biblical truth."
(I write)
"How Generous"
(You wrote)
"And if for some reason the Lord does bless a minister with some of those things, that minister MUST be completely transparent or his motives will be suspect."
(I write)
"To this I agree and would only add, perception, perception, perception."
Tony
Amazing Grace Ministries
"How generous"
There's no need to be facetious.
And considering the damning evidence against the Rev. Dr. Johnston's integrity and motives, the presumption of innocence is rather generous.
In a court of law selfish ambition is not a crime. But it is a sin. And we ministers need to be on guard against it.
Question; As a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, did you follow the guidelines established in Matt 18 before writing "But I also know that Johnston's philosophy of ministry is polar opposite of my own. In fact, I believe it's opposite of how a minister should act."? I am sure you understand that posting a blog of this sort is a public arena. Read by those inside as well as outside the body of Christ. Keeping that in mind, publically posting comments like that, if in fact you have not gone to Pastor Jerry in private could, prove very damaging to those who are perhaps on the brink of putting their faith and trust in Christ and who read what you have posted.
Jim
No, I've never met Pastor Jerry; I'm sure he's a great person. But if a fraction of what's been written about him is true, then he and I just don't see eye to eye on our philosophies of ministry.
And in my opinion this kind of church government, where the preacher is essentially his own boss, is a risky proposition that carries far greater risk of damaging the faith of new believers than my blog.
Pastor Jared,
The key word in your phrase is "if". In your initial blog on this you state that you "know that Johnston's philosophy of ministry is polar opposite of my own. In fact, I believe it's opposite of how a minister should act." In your response to me you state "if". Are there things that need to change in the way FFC is governed? As a matter of fact there are, and I hope and pray that there will be changes. My dad ran an international mission and as someone who gave and continues to give monthly to the mission I could have gone into the office any time I asked to see the books and they would have shown me them. I would love to see that at FFC and am hopeful that the time will come when we will. I agree that changes need to be made. What I disagree with is the church taking this to the newspaper and to the world wide web. I believe the Word of God is pretty clear on believers taking one another to court. In my opinion, the purpose for that prohibition in Scripture is, it does great damage to the cause of Christ. I don’t believe it’s because there is something inherently wrong with the court system. When I was young, my little sister was brutally attacked by a dog. My parents got calls from every Tom, Dick and Harry lawyer in the area pushing us to take the family (who, by the way were believers and members of our church). Dad refused because he felt that it would do damage to the name of Christ and he believed that Scripture was clear on the issue. It was amazing to see the way God blessed the church after that, numerous people came to Christ. In fact, over the next year the church more than doubled in size!
I have no problem with you disagreeing with Jerry; I don't even have a problem with you discussing it with individuals that come to you (though I certainly believe you should go to him first). But to jump on the www to do so, that in my opinion is a problem. You know how I found out about your blog? I saw a link to it on another persons blog who was clearly(so far as I can tell from his language on content of his blog) not a believer. I don't believe that that was your desire when you posted initially, but that is what happened. That gravely disappoints me. I would hope that is would disappoint you as well.
And, for the record, I happen to know that a great deal of what was written in the Star was not accurate but assumed. I also know that the gal that wrote the article was given many answers to her questions that she did not publish. Could it be that to publish those answers would have done damage to what it was she wanted to accomplish in her article? Only she can answer that question, but for some reason she did not include those answers.
Now, to your response to Rev. Tony, you state "And considering the damning evidence against the Rev. Dr. Johnston's integrity and motives". Who gave you the right to judge any mans motives? Did God give you the ability to see into Jerry's heart? If so, then by all means go ahead and judge his motives and please accept my apologies. If he didn't, then you are making an assumption that you are not qualified to make.
Pastor Jared. I do not have a problem with you disagreeing with Jerry and what you believe to be his philosophy of ministry. I don't have a problem with you, in your own heart questioning his motives. What I struggle greatly with is taking it to the world. You have had 33,014 hits on your blog. 33,014! I hope that the day will come that I have that many hits on my blog, but I pray that they come not because of my criticism of another believer, but because of the spiritual content that is there.
How about you and I committing to pray, and if we feel led by God after that prayer, confront Pastor Jerry in a manner that honors the God we both serve. But let’s avoid taking it to the world.
Pastor Jared, if you click on my name in my initial response, you will be taken to my Yahoo360 page, lets take this discussion there if you want to talk further. You can leave me personal messages there or we can speak through email that is not open to the world.
Respectfully,
Jim
Jim, I can't send a message to you privately because I'm not registered with Yahoo360. So I'll write here.
Jim wrote: "Did God give you the ability to see into Jerry's heart? If so, then by all means go ahead and judge his motives and please accept my apologies. If he didn't, then you are making an assumption that you are not qualified to make."
Again, there's no need for snide remarks and sarcasm.
I presume from your passionate need to keep this private that you may be a member of Johnston's church. That's okay; I know some good folks who go there and I wish them well.
But understand that the need to keep church leaders publicly accountable for how they conduct themselves is a Biblical principle (Gal 2; Ezek 34; Jer 23).
If I knew Johnston personally or had ever crossed paths with him or felt that his actions impacted me personally, I'd talk to him face to face as well. (Maybe you can arrange that for me.)
But keeping our leaders openly and publicly transparent and accountable will help the church, not hurt it. The unchurched are already suspicious of church leaders (due largely to unaccountable church leadership), so why keep things under wraps and feed their paranoia?
The Star's hit piece is a blessing in disguise. It gives Johnston the catalyst to make his ministry completely transparent. And maybe many other congregations and ministries will follow suit.
Pastor Jared,
Perhaps my remark was snide, I certainly don't mean to offend you, but personally you have offended me. By the way, Galatians 2 was not a public forum, it was the church dealing with wrong in the life of Peter. The Apostle Paul confronted Peter in front of the church not the world! There is a very clear difference. Ezekiel 34 was written to address sin in the life of Shepherds within the Nation of Israel, God’s chosen people. Though it may have appeared to be an open forum, it was taken care of within the context of what was God's chosen people. And, by the way, God Himself dealt with those unworthy shepherds. Jeremiah was much the same as Ezekiel, again to the Nation of Israel. A number of years ago I was wronged in a very big way by some men within the leadership of the local church. I did nothing wrong to these men yet at a time when I needed them most (my wife and I were in the midst of loosing a 4 month old baby) they attacked me. Not once did I ever attack back (although I will admit my lawnmower heard a few things!). Everything was dealt with in the confines of the church and specifically within the leadership of the church. Many, including my own wife wanted me to go on the offensive, so to speak. To attack them in the same way they attacked me. I was very tempted to do just that and, by the way, I had plenty of ammo. I called a very Godly man, who happens to be my dad for direction. His response, “Jim, do you really think God needs you help in this. Leave those men in God’s hands. He is more than capable of handling them. In the meantime, you control the one person you can control. You! It is up to you to respond in a way that is pleasing to God. It is up to you to be the Godly one here.” Sadly, God dealt with one in particular in a very severe way. He gave him the opportunity to repent and when he refused, God took his life. I wept bitterly
I wonder how many or your now 33, 054 readers followed the same link I did to find your blog? How many of those folks have never had the opportunity to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and are certainly not being influenced in that direction by what you have posted here. And, by the way, I would want to keep this private no matter where I went to church. If the accusations were being leveled against you in a public forum and not the church, I would be passionate about wanting to address it within the confines of the church. Do you deny that that is where this sort of thing should be addressed? If you want to ex-communicate Jerry after you have followed Matthew 18, then do it. Confront him privately, if he has sinned and refuses to repent, take some other pastors with you…..you know the procedures.
By the way, if in fact Jerry has done wrong, then as a fellow minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ it has affected you personally. Weep for him! Much the way I did for Jim Bakker, and Jimmy Swaggert, the way I wept for the one who attacked me when he died. Right now, you have the ability to go to him, and first find out if there is truth to the allegations, and if there is, then confront him with the desire from complete restoration. Instead you have elected to take it to a very public forum.
Perhaps the day may come when the Star article is a blessing, but currently, it is far from a blessing. I am certain that our Lord is ashamed at what has taken place, ashamed at Jerry if He did wrong, and ashamed at His chosen servants who have taken problems that should be addressed within the confines of the church to a public forum.
Respectfully,
Jim
Ps. My email address is jimpam86@yahoo.com
Pastor Jerod and readers,
When speaking with my wife this morning, she reminded me that she never asked me to go on the offensive when I was attacked. She asked me to reconsider my traditional Wednesday morning breakfast at the cafe where those who attacked me would also be. Her concern was that it would be uncomfortable for me. She was correct, it was uncomfortable, but I still went and still offered my hand to each of them.
Sincerely,
Jim
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