The following is part of the interview process I went through with Community Bible Church of Olathe. After the initial 3-hour conversation, they sent me a list of questions to respond to. These were necessarily brief, but I hope you find them helpful.
Q13: What is your perspective on the social justice movement, including critical race theory, and its role/impact in the Church?
- The church should be champions of justice and racial reconciliation. Racism is sin and has no place in the body of Christ. We share the desire of most humans for the world to be set right, and to the extent that we are able we should be zealous for good deeds and participate in the promotion of the biblical understanding of justice and freedom.
- “Social justice” is often defined in unbiblical ways such as the redistribution of wealth and property, equality of outcome rather than equality of opportunity, and reproductive rights which attempt to justify the murder of unborn children. Many of these ideas are counter to biblical justice. Christians must navigate these demands for “social justice” with wisdom and not support that which is unbiblical and sinful.
- “Critical Race Theory” (CRT) has its roots in Marxism and is built on an atheistic, divisive worldview that is counter to biblical Christianity. CRT promotes the idea that people are defined by their race or class, rather than by the image of God or their actions and attitudes, it divides people according to intersectional categories such as gender, race, sexual preference, and economic status rather than biblical ideas of identity. Again, Christians must navigate these ideas with wisdom and not support that which is unbiblical and sinful.
Q14: What authors/books have been influential in your life and ministry?
- This is a very difficult list to create. I read very broadly and often tell the story of when I was in a Dallas Seminary chapel when Chuck Swindoll read a quote from the Roman Catholic theologian Henri Nouwen. He prefaced it by saying, “I know we don’t agree with much of what this man has written, but frankly, I don’t agree with much of what I’ve written.” I appreciate the word “authors” here and would add professors, because my formal training is probably a better indication of my influences than a short list of books.
- Chuck Swindoll is one of the main reasons I chose to enroll in DTS in 1991. His books and radio ministry impacted me tremendously at a time when I wanted desperately to be able to understand the Bible better. His book, “The Grace Awakening” was very influential in my life at that time. I was also impacted by Charles Ryrie’s book, “Dispensationalism Today” as I was in the process of choosing a seminary. I was also impacted during this time by Walter Martin’s “Kingdom of the Cults,” “Evidence that Demands a Verdict,” by Josh McDowell, and “The Pursuit of Holiness,” by Jerry Bridges and “Knowing God” by J. I. Packer.
- As a student of Dallas Theological Seminary, I was impacted by many books written by DTS faculty and graduates. Several books by DTS founder, Lewis Sperry Chafer, including his systematic theology and his book “He That Is Spiritual.” Several books by Dr. Ryrie including “Basic Theology” and “So Great Salvation,” Dr. Howard Hendricks’ “Living By the Book,” Dr. Roy Zuck’s “Basic Bible Interpretation,” Drs. Darrel Bock’s and Craig Blaising’s “Progressive Dispensationalism,” Dr. Ronald Allen’s “The Majesty of Man,” Dr. Larry Moyer’s “Free and Clear,” several books by Dr. Dwight Pentecost, Dr. Stanley Toussaint, Dr. Harold Hoehner, and other DTS faculty have influenced me more than I can remember.
- My formal training included reading other than the Dallas Seminary faculty, of course, including “Chosen By God” by R. C. Sproul, “Competent to Counsel” by Jay Adams, “The Text of the New Testament” by Bruce M. Metzger, “Spiritual Leadership” by J. Oswald Sanders, “Victory Over the Darkness,” by Neil T. Anderson, “Inside Out” by Dr. Larry Crabb, “Speaking in Tongues,” by Dr. Joseph Dillow, several books by George Barna, James Dobson, John MacArthur, Gene Getz, Ron Rhodes, Hank Hanegraaff, Francis Scaheffer, C. S. Lewis, along with numerous technical books such as commentaries and surveys.
- My mentor, Dr. Barkef Osigian, was more influential than any author or book I ever read. As I made my way through DTS, I served in the church he pastored and was mentored by him for a total of 14 years. Through many conversations over many meals, hundreds of sermons and Bible studies, he helped me process what I was reading and studying during my formal training in DTS, and helped me navigate the fads and trends of ministry as I served on his staff after seminary.
- I have also enjoyed and been influenced by biographies “Here I Stand,” the premiere biography of Martin Luther by Roland Bainton, “From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya,” by missionary Ruth Tucker, “Praying Hyde,” by E. G. Carre, “God’s Smuggler,” by Brother Andrew, “Born Again,” by Chuck Colson, “From Suffering to Triumph,” by Richard Wurmbrand, and “The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom.
- As a senior pastor, I read extensively on the subjects of ministry, missions, leadership development and hermeneutics. During this time I discovered BILD International and for the past 15 years have considered their founder, Jeff Reed, and one of their key team members, Randy Beckett, my mentors during this season of my life. I am currently working on a Doctor of Ministry degree through BILD’s Antioch School of Leadership Development. Through this training, I have been challenged to read more broadly than ever. All of the reading is exploring the works of those who have been influential in some significant way or have explored areas of mission and ministry evangelicals have largely ignored. Some of these authors include N. T. Wright, Hans Kung, Edward Farley and David Hesselgrave.
- I often find myself recommending the following books in my more recent classes and other discussions: “The Juvenilization of American Christianity” by Thomas Burglar, “Almost Christian” by Sandra Keasy Dean, “Reign of the Servant Kings/Final Destiny” by Dr. Joseph Dillow, “Planting Churches Cross-Culturally” by David Hesselgrave, and “The Seven Faith Tribes” by George Barna.
