The Scam

The Scam comes out of the crucible of my own experience. I spent thirty years pastoring local churches when Holy Spirit began to reveal to me my true identity in Christ. I will never forget the initial shock. It’s as fresh today as it was the day it happened.

I was sitting at my desk reading through the book of I John. It was just a casual read. I wasn’t looking for next Sunday’s message. There was no pen in my hand. It was a slow enjoyable ready, so I thought. This was not my first tim to read through I John. I’m fairly familiar with its content. All of a sudden I had one of those moments when you experience what you’ve preached. It’s possible to see something and not see it. You can hear something and not hear it. Well, I had one of the encounters. When I got to chapter four of I John verse seventeen jumped off the page and grabbed me. “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is so are we in this world.” Those last nine words became a flashing light – “As He is so are we in this world.” Again, this was not my first trip through I John. This is one of the books we translated in Greek Class back in our seminary days. Those words never grabbed my attention like they did that day. I carefully pushed my bible a little ways from me and kept mumbling these words; “As He is so am I in this world.” I remember thinking: “Lord, I’m like you now? I know when You return I’ll be like You, but now?” The next words that came out of me were: “Lord, if there’s anything you want to fix in me, if there’s any reshaping you want to do with my theological grid, you have my permission.” He thought I meant it because He went to work immediately.

There have been some uncomfortable moments when Holy Spirit took some of my pet peeves and blew them up. I don’t know how many times I’ve had to tell the people I pastor that I’ve been wrong on some things. To my surprise they have been kind and loving toward me. It’s a tough gig to stand before your people and tell them you were wrong. Insecurity is what keeps us from being honest – the fear of rejection. After all, what church wants a leader who admits they’ve been wrong n some of their theology. I’ll answer that for you, most people do.