Dear Bill

Chapter twenty-six

I titled my third book, The Way It Is: confronting evangelical traditions. Page 21….

A young man from the Watchtower Society (a Jehovah’s witness) came knocking on my door and soon we were in a debate. He argued that since the Christian church was split into so many factions, it could not possibly be God’s representative on the earth. On the other hand, the Jehovah’s witnesses were in strong unity throughout the world, a sure sign they are God’s true agent.

I knew much about their history and asked if they had ever been united in error. Listen carefully to his answer: “Yes, but it’s better to be united in error than divided over truth.”

That twisted rationale is not limited to the Watchtower Society; it is lodged in the heart of every religionist. If the religionist solemnly prayed, “Lord Jesus, please show me where my religion is in error, and I will turn from that error” he/she would no longer be a religionist. What would that christian be?…. lonely.

But chances are paper-slim that he/she will ever pray those words. Why? Simply because “it’s better to be united in error than divided over truth.”

While there are eternal benefits to walking in truth, there are here-and-now advantages to walking in god unity. Unity assures the acceptance the heart longs for. Acceptance and approval – two rewards that motivate every follower of christians. To belong, to be accepted, to be complimented is the yearning of the mormon, the catholic, the evangelical.

The Way It Is, in challenging beloved traditions, simultaneously affronts the evangelical religionist. Like catholicism, evangelicalism is oh so powerful, rivalling the bible. Pastor Whoever doesn’t need permission from the bible to charge for services rendered; his religion grants all permission required, thank you. And membership? And credentials? And appellations? And control of the pulpit? No need to get authorization from Lord Jesus (Lord Jesus? Did I say Lord Jesus?); he was already sanctioned by his denomination; what more could he possibly need?

Around midway of writing this book, Ain’t Much was weakening. Please understand, this wasn’t David vs Goliath – evangelicalism is much more powerful that hundreds of Goliaths combined, and I had but a fraction of David’s grit. I was the small child struggling to carry his daddy’s bulky suitcase.

Evangelicalism is the love of most (certainly not all) christians, even “first love”. In “confronting evangelical traditions” I was confronting the majority of christians I know or had ever known…. and the thousands upon thousands of pastors worldwide that earn their livelihood through this religion, and who zealously defend their right to be sole occupants of their pulpits.

Evangelicalism is as established as catholicism, and deemed equally sacred. It is so powerful that to be unattached to one of its thousands of factions is to forfeit all credibility. Only a malcontent would dare scrutinize evangelicalism and, worse, only an insurgent would criticize.

Every public preacher I know of, a few facebook featherweights excepted, buttresses this religion, by word and by example including…. Mike…. and Howard…. and John…. and Benny…. and Pat…. and Joseph…. and many etceteras. Add to this chorus of voices of the past like…. Billy…. and Oral…. and Kenneth…. and Rex.

And add Bill Johnson, the man Jesus used to heal me of a painful injury…. the man of wise sayings…. ambassador of Christ…. ambassador of evangelicalism (sigh).

All these voices compose an enormous choir singing in harmony the praises of evangelical “tradition[s] of men”. And standing defiant against this mighty army of Adders and Subtracters was Ain’t Much, Junior Burger, Micro-me.

Can you understand, my precious brother-in-Christ, why I asked Lord Jesus to send me an encourager, some rare christian who would strengthen me in my lonely campaign against That’s just the way it is!? (By this time Richard was with Jesus in heaven.) I expected flesh and blood, a brother to reassure and edify. Instead Jesus gave me a book….

Even the title is powerful, Jesus Tells the Man Who Cares, by A.W. Tozer (1897-1963). I think I read his book 6-8 times. The very first words: “The Bible was written in tears and to tears it will yield its best treasures. God has nothing to say to the frivolous man.”

To me, weary from writing words I knew most didn’t want to hear, this book was a tonic. I was not alone after all. Though I couldn’t (and will never) match this brother’s depth and love for God and truth, as well as his ability to express, as well as his raw courage, I was heartened to know there was someone who saw what I saw and heard what I heard.

I already quoted from God Tells the Man Who Cares (chapter twelve) and I do so again for your consideration. Okay?

Page 33: We must protest the light casting away of our freedom. The simple liberty of early christianity is being lost to us. One by one we are surrendering those rights purchased for us by the blood of the everlasting covenant – the right to be ourselves, the right to obey the Holy Spirit, the right to think our own private thoughts, the right to do what we will with our lives, the right to determine under God what we shall do with our money.

Page 45: Along with the gift of eternal life, the entrance of the Holy Spirit into the believer’s heart and the induction of the newborn soul into the body of Christ comes the instant obligation to obey the teachings of the New Testament.

Page 83: We must acknowledge the right of Jesus Christ to control the activities of His church. The New Testament contains full instructions, not only in what we are to believe but what we are to do and how we are to go about doing it. Any deviation from those instructions is a denial of the Lordship of Christ.

Page 114: The tendency to make a mere front of religion is strongest among persons engaged in professional Christian service, such as pastors, evangelists, teachers, Sunday school workers and those who write, edit, publish and promote religion generally.

Page 128: If we offer our converts something beside Christ or something in addition to Christ, we should not be disappointed if they do not run well or long.