“Preach THE Gospel, Not YOUR Gospel”
A textbook example of the misuse of a pastor’s ministerial charge! Simply stunning! After reading the article below, please feel free to add your thoughts. I offer my initial reaction and more reflective after-thoughts below:
In short, I find this self-professed “sermon” utterly reprehensible and inexcusable. In fact, it may well be the most graphic example of misuse of a pastor’s ministerial responsibility that I have ever witnessed.
On second, third, and more carefully reflective considerations, “Bishop Budde” is but one of a number of high-profile clergy who are missing the mark by their aberrant theologies and counter-biblical ideological agenda—and in many cases for the “many (mammon-y?) happy returns” it so frequently delivers. Although the number of these purveyors of distorted theology thankfully is far eclipsed by the vast throng of preachers who are faithful to Christian orthodoxy, their high visibility gives their toxic ideology a dangerously wide sphere of influence.
If physicians are rightly held accountable for medical malpractice, how much more should those charged with the responsibility of shepherding (feeding, protecting, laying down their lives for–in short–fostering the spiritual health of) God’s flock be held accountable for theological malpractice?
I register no condemnation of Bishop Budde. The responsibility for condemnation or acquittal does not fall on me or any other humans, for that matter, and not even on God Himself. The responsibility for anyone’s condemnation or acquittal rests solely on the individual in question. Their words and actions in response to God’s Word, will ultimately be either their judge, jury, and executioner or their pardon, restoration, and ultimate salvation.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day fancied themselves tools of God on behalf of their people. Their failure to recognize God’s Unique Son when He was living among them “full of grace and truth” made clear whose “toolbox” had become their nesting place. How slyly Satan had deceived them into thinking they were tools of God, when in fact they had become tools of Satan, used–in God’s providence–to effect the sacrificial and atoning death of His unique Son that would bring salvation to all who put their faith–and their faithfulness–in HIM. Yet, although God worked their evil for the good of millions, their guilt remains.
Bishop Budde’s “sermon” displays a counter-biblical ideological agenda that indicates that she has been co-opted as a tool of Satan disguised as an angel of light—and a rather poor disguise, at that! I pray for her soul . . . for her sorrow, contrition, and radical repentance. God loves her–as He does all of us–in spite of her past and current versions of herself, but He hates like HELL what she has done with her sacred responsibility.
God NEVER “changes His skin.” His nature, character, and will is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I cannot help but think that God’s word to this bishop is no different from the word He delivered through the incarnate lips of His co-eternal Son to the religious leaders of the first century who had so radically misused their ministerial charge: “Woe to you, scribes, Pharisees! Hypocrites!”
The word “Woe” is a solemn warning that their destruction is certain, unless they “shuv and tov,” unless they turn from evil and return to the good (One). These stern words are not the harsh death sentence of an egomaniacal, power-hungry divine dictator who seeks to manipulate others against their wills and control them by force. They are instead the compassionate words of a loving Heavenly Father who wants all of His offspring to enjoy an eternal, utopian relationship with Him.
May we continually subject our presentations of the gospel to the witness of the Scriptures themselves and the critique of others in whom God’s Spirit dwells–for the health of the body of Christ and the salvation of the world.
